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3 hours ago
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If this was Giannis Antetokounmpo's final game in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform, he left everything out on the floor.
His line in the one-point overtime loss to the Pacers is unreal:
- 30 points (9-17 FG)
- 20 rebounds
- 13 assists
- 2 steals
- 2 blocks
Antetokounmpo was seen late in the game clearly huffing and puffing on his way to 44 minutes of high-intensity, center-of-attention basketball.
He's made no indication that he wants out of Milwaukee, but with Damian Lillard slated to miss next season with his torn Achilles, everything is on the table.
Antetokounmpo trade rumors are a popular offseason topic. This time around, they feel like they could actually be real.
He's done everything for his adopted city, the one that embraced him as an 18-year old who marveled at the new world he was living in.
From the innocence of a young Antetokounmpo trying Oreos for the first time, to the on-court growth from a spindly kid from Greece into a sculpted NBA champion, Milwaukee has been Antetokounmpo's everything, not just for himself but for his entire family that moved there with him.
If there's ever a player in the modern NBA who will want to spend his entire career with one franchise, it's Giannis.
But the business side of things might, for the first time, swing the pendulum in favor of the Milwaukee front office investigating an Antetokounmpo trade.
He'd require a massive haul. Think four or five first-round picks, or the young player equivalents.
A team like Oklahoma City has the treasure trove of assets to pursue such a deal. The Warriors have been a popular speculated destination through the years, but it's not clear a package centered around Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody would be nearly enough.
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On this night, though, it's not that key to think about the destination.
It's more worth taking a moment to consider everything Antetokounmpo has meant to the Bucks.
He spent his career breaking records set by the first great Bucks draft pick, Lew Alcindor turned Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Giannis and Kareem had much in common on the court in terms of their otherworldly length and talent, but their paths were different.
Kareem was the top basketball player in the world probably from the time he was a high school junior or senior.
Antetokounmpo was a second-division player in Greece who moved a bit like Bambi around the court.
But the Bucks saw something, used the No. 15 pick on him, and the rest is history.
Antetokounmpo deserves to chase another title, if he wants to. He also deserves to stay in Milwaukee, if he wants to.
An offseason of trade rumors is coming, but don't let them ruin Antetokounmpo's legacy. He's one of the greatest players in NBA history, and he stayed loyal to Milwaukee from the moment he arrived in the league.
His next step will be the right one, no matter what it is.
English (US)