Giannis Antetokounmpo inks 3-year, $250m extension with Milwaukee Bucks: Reports
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo dunking in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in a pre-season game at Crypto.com Arena.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MILWAUKEE – It just gets better for the Milwaukee Bucks even before the new National Basketball Association (NBA) season started on Tuesday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player who won a championship with the Bucks in 2021, has signed a US$186 million (S$254.3 million) maximum contract extension on Monday in a surprise move.
“MILWAUKEEEEEEEEE!! Let’s get it!!!! #BucksInSix #Extended,” the “Greek Freak” posted on X on Monday night.
The new deal is for three years, and it includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, broadcasters ESPN and The Athletic reported on Monday.
Antetokounmpo, 28, had previously said it did not make financial sense for him to sign an extension this off-season, instead eyeing the summer of 2024.
As recently as the Bucks’ pre-season media day earlier in October, he said he was in no hurry to decide anything – noting that he wanted to be certain the franchise remained committed to going for titles.
There was an 11.59pm deadline on Monday night for him and Milwaukee to complete a deal, before the start of the season on Tuesday.
The Bucks did not yet make an official announcement at press time, but they reposted Antetokounmpo’s post on X. Their repost was accompanied by the message: “The best possible cure for the Mondays.”
The Milwaukee star forward averaged a career-high 31.1 points per game in 63 games last season, adding 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists per contest. He was league MVP in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons and Finals MVP in 2021, when the Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns.
After an early exit from last campaign’s play-offs as the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks traded for Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard this off-season to pair with Antetokounmpo – committing to vying for more titles.
The duo are set to be one of the best attacking partnerships this season, and that could be the main reason for his decision. His new deal runs through the duration of Lillard’s contract with the club.
Entering his 11th NBA season, Antetokounmpo has averaged 22.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per game over 719 career games (654 starts), all with the Bucks.
“I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career – as long as we are winning,” he said previously.
The Bucks open their 2023-2024 season on Thursday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers. REUTERS, AFP
