2x NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals what made him sign supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, and his plans for the future.
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The biggest question in the 2020 offseason was related to an event that would bear no fruit till the 2021 offseason. The 2x NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract expired in 2021. He was due to enter his final season with the Bucks this season if he did not sign his extension. A lot of teams in the league avoided spending a lot this offseason on the off-chance they might be able to lure Giannis to their city.
However, all of those plans went to waste as the ‘Greek Freak’ signed a monster 5 year, $228 million extension with the Bucks.
“I knew what I wanted all summer.”: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis gave us all a message the day the Heat kicked the Bucks out that he was staying. However, in the following days, he met with the Bucks management, and their meeting led people to believe that there is still a chance Giannis might switch teams. The 2x MVP put all these rumors to rest when he signed his supermax extension earlier this week.
In the press conference regarding the signing of his deal, Giannis talks about what made him stay, and when he knew he was not going anywhere. He talks about what he expects in the future.
Among the few things that stood apart from this conference, one was that he has a clear plan for his future in Milwaukee.
“Have kids and have a championship. It’s tough. Nowhere guarantees a championship. It might take me ten years to win a championship.”
“It’s always nice to see kids wear my jersey and are going to be able to watch me play.” He singled out that he did not want his jersey to be burnt and that made him want to stay as well.
Apart from that, when Giannis asked his mother, she also told him to stay in Milwaukee: “This is the place I want to be. This is where I want to raise my kids.”
While it is clear now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is not going anywhere, we yet have to see how far the Bucks go in the Eastern Conference with the return of KD and Kyrie and the arrival of Russell Westbrook.