Since Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat eliminated Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks from the 1st round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, there are some rumors linking 2x MVP to the Warriors. It’s like a Déjà vu to the Bubble season when Jimmy Buckets knocked the Bucks out of the 2nd round in 5 games. Giannis’ ‘Plow through the wall’ comment from that year has come to the fore, amidst all the noise from the Dubs fans.
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The Bucks already started the reconstruction by firing head coach, Mike Budenholzer, who was with the franchise for 5 years and had completed his 10 years in the league. The 53-year-old had led the Milwaukee team to three #1 finishes in the East along with a championship in four of his 5-year stay at the ball club.
So, you can imagine there are plenty more considerable changes coming for the season to come. But, will their 2021 Finals MVP be a part of it? Let’s take you back to 2020, to remind you how the Bucks were able to keep the Greek international then.
Reminiscing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks’ situation after the 2020 loss
Antetokounmpo was just coming off his MVP season. The Bucks had finished a 73-game, COVID-19 hit season, with 56 wins and the best record in the league. However, Butler, who had just come to the Heat in 2019 from Philadelphia, led his young side to upset Giannis and Co in the conference Semi-finals in 5 games.
After their elimination, and with the Greek international due for an extension, there were strong rumors of him joining Stephen Curry’s side as both Steph and Klay were coming off injuries and wanted another star to be competitive again.
It didn’t last long after Giannis himself put a full stop to those talks by making a bold statement.
“Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually, and get right back at it next season,” said a 25-year-old Giannis according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
A @YahooSports exclusive with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo on teams waiting for him to request a trade in offseason: “That’s not happening. Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it.” https://t.co/CBCBZUrMia
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 9, 2020
The Bucks extended him for a 5-year with $228 million, while he was eligible for a super-max of $254 million. But they rewarded him by surrounding him with a tough two-way point guard, Jrue Holiday, and more than decent shooting.
The payback by the Greek Freak was a championship. With 3 years still remaining on that contract, can he do the same again after failing the expectations for two straight seasons?
Will Giannis still be a Buck in 2024?
The team would definitely not have started their off-season by letting go of Mike if they were not sure about their two-way juggernaut staying and running it back with the guys who stay and the new pieces the Bucks could get until February 2024.
But for him to say, they might have to ship out his Robin of the 2021 success, Khris Middleton. With the uncertain fitness of the 31-year-old, it is tough to say whom Milwaukee could get in return, even if they package him up with some decent role players and draft picks.
