According to ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo has expressed his desire to leave the Milwaukee Bucks. As multiple sources have stated, "Antetokounmpo's future is decided."

As early as last December, Shams reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Salasis, were in talks with the Bucks regarding his future. A decision was expected to be reached in the coming weeks, directly impacting Antetokounmpo's actions before the trade deadline.

As the news broke, tensions in the Bucks' locker room escalated and quickly spread to the fan base. During the regular season game against the Timberwolves on January 13th, a rare scene unfolded where home fans booed Giannis Antetokounmpo and others; Antetokounmpo responded with boos after scoring a layup in the third quarter, clearly revealing the rift between the two sides.

In fact, rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially leaving the team were rampant during the 2025 offseason. At that time, it was confirmed that Giannis would decide his future based on the Bucks' performance at the start of this season, but the team's current record clearly does not meet his expectations.

So far this season, Giannis Antetokounmpo has played 30 regular season games, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 29.2 minutes per game. His scoring efficiency is the best in the league, with a field goal percentage of 64.5% and a three-point percentage of 39.5%.

However, the Bucks are a team that cannot function without Giannis Antetokounmpo. When he's on the court, the Bucks are 15-15; when he's absent, their offensive efficiency plummets to a league-worst 106.0. Amidst this turmoil, the Bucks currently sit 12th in the Eastern Conference with an 18-27 record.

Faced with a dismal record and an uncertain future, the Bucks' management has begun evaluating various trade options. They have not yet pursued any trades due to the uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo's future and the team's limited salary cap space.

Shams further pointed out that the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves are all potential destinations for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks have also made it clear to the entire league that they are not in a hurry to complete a trade unless the other party can offer top young players or a large number of draft picks. Rather than rushing into a deal, the Bucks prefer to postpone the trade until the offseason to calmly evaluate more attractive options.

As for Giannis Antetokounmpo, he is prepared to leave Milwaukee before the trade deadline or this summer. The 31-year-old is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million supermax contract on October 1, or he can become a free agent in the 2027 offseason by waiving his $62.8 million player option.

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