Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo said he does not plan to sign a contract extension when he becomes eligible next month, explaining that he won’t sign one until he’s comfortable knowing the organization will continue to compete for a championship, according to the New York Times.
Antetokounmpo, a two time NBA MVP and World Champion, spoke about his stance during an interview with the NBA journalists at the Times that was published on Thursday, saying that “numbers-wise it doesn’t make sense” and that the Bucks organization has something to prove to him before he considers signing a max contract extension next summer.
Antetokounmpo is set to enter the third season of a five-year, $228 million supermax extension in 2023-2024 and his deal includes a player option after the 2024-2025 season.
“Next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don’t know,” Antetokounmpo said. “I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”
The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo a three-year, $173 million extension beginning on September 22nd.
“At the end of the day, I feel like all my teammates know and the organization knows that I want to win a championship,” he said. “As long as we’re on the same page with that and you show me and we go together to win a championship, I’m all for it. The moment I feel like, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re trying to rebuild’ … there will never be hard feelings with the Milwaukee Bucks.”
Despite Antetokounmpo’s position he reiterated his desire to remain with one franchise for his entire career.
“At the end of the day, being a winner, it’s over that goal,” Antetokounmpo added. “Winning a championship comes first. I don’t want to be 20 years on the same team and don’t win another championship.”
