Giannis Antetokounmpo offers candid answer about future with the Bucks following playoffs miss

Giannis Antetokounmpo remains one of the best players in the NBA when he is healthy. That qualifier came under heavy scrutiny in the latter part of the 2025-2026 season, as there were conflicting reports about his availability from him and the Milwaukee Bucks. 

This is just a snippet of how the relationship between the two sides deteriorated, leaving Antetokounmpo's future with the organization in limbo.

The star forward is under contract through the 2026-2027 regular season, and then he has a player option for the following year. Antetokounmpo still has high trade value, and Milwaukee could look into trading him now to commit to rebuilding the franchise. 

After the Bucks' current season ended, the forward was asked about his future with the franchise. His response didn't reveal much, but it was clear he was frustrated with how the season had gone for him and the team. 

Here is more on what Antetokounmpo said about his future with the Bucks after the team's 2025-2026 season came to an end without a playoff berth. 

MORE: Full 2026 NBA playoff picture with matchups and more

What did Giannis say about future with Bucks?

Antetokounmpo did a media scrum for 10 minutes following Milwaukee's final game of the season, and it came on the heels of the news that Doc Rivers was no longer going to be the head coach for the team. The star forward was asked directly if he thought he had played his last game with the Bucks, and he responded, "That's a very good question. I don't know. It's not up to me. We'll see." 

Two of the main points that Antetokounmpo made throughout his media scrum were that he felt the organization was "as far from contention as they were at any point in his career" and that he was upset at the lack of communication with the franchise.

"I feel like sometimes people just don't listen," the Bucks star said. "They listen to the sources. The main source is me. It is what it is. So again, do not disturb on my phone, go about my day, improve, and come back better."

Here is more on what Antetokounmpo said about the lack of communication with the franchise, especially regarding his injury status and health throughout the season. 

"I don't have control. Being cleared to play, I don't understand ... from my understanding, coming back to play, which I don't think I ever had any return-to-play protocol, but to my understanding was I had to play 3-on-3 to be able to be available to play. I did that multiple times. I've never in my life denied participation of practice. I don't know who said that, who came up with that, but that's disrespectful towards what I've done for this team and the way I carry myself my whole career, pretty much. But I did what I was supposed to do. I wasn't able to come on the court now. Who has that say? It probably comes from my boss, probably comes from the members of the front office or the owners. So, I thought I had control, kind of like, 'OK, if I'm healthy, I'm going to play.' But this shows me that not just me, just players in general, don't have no control. We got to do what we've been told. So, to answer your question, no. I didn't feel like I had control."

MORE: Are Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham and SGA eligible for 2025-2026 season awards? 

Giannis Antetokounmpo contract

With how much Antetokounmpo's contract and a possible extension are being brought up, you'd think he was entering free agency, but he isn't. The 2026-2027 season marks the last fully guaranteed year of his contract, making him eligible for a massive contract extension. This situation leaves the Milwaukee front office in a bit of a pickle because they either have to commit four more years and a massive cap hit to the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo or trade him so that he doesn't walk in free agency next offseason for nothing. 

Antetokounmpo was asked about his contract situation and whether he would be willing to sign an extension when he becomes eligible in October 2026.

"We'll see when we get there. We have [several] months [until then] ... it's a long time. But somebody has to offer you that, for you to sign. I haven't been offered an extension. So, if that is on the table, then I will try to make the best decision for me and my family. But if it's not on the table, then I have to focus on how can I improve my worth and get on the floor and do what I do."

The star forward is currently playing on a three-year, $175.37 million veteran max extension, per Spotrac. It runs through the 2026-2027 season, and he has a player option for 2027-2028. If he chose to pick it up, Antetokounmpo would hit free agency ahead of the 2028-2029 season with the way his contract is currently constructed. 

MORE: Updated 2026 NBA Draft lottery odds

Will Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo?

When Antetokounmpo says that he doesn't have control over his situation in Milwaukee, he isn't wrong. The Bucks front office could trade him at any time, and reportedly were shopping him in potential deals ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline. Despite being a superstar of the game, Antetokounmpo's contract does not contain any sort of no-trade clause, so he can be traded to any team without his approval. 

Milwaukee will now have all offseason to take a step back and look at its roster and assets and see if it is worth attempting to sign Antetokounmpo to the massive extension he will be eligible for, or if it makes more sense to make a blockbuster deal and send him to a new franchise for the first time in his 13-year career.