The NBA trade deadline came and went, with Giannis Antetokounmpo still a member of the Bucks.
The two-time league MVP is in Los Angeles for All-Star weekend, albeit not playing in the first-time “USA vs. the World” format on Sunday due to the right calf injury that has sidelined him since Jan. 23.
In an interview with ESPN ahead of the All-Star showcase, the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo restated his commitment to Milwaukee for the rest of this season with an eye on adding another championship to the one he won in 2021.
“As of today, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks,” Antetokounmpo said in a sitdown with ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “I’m committed to the people that I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, coach Doc [Rivers] and [GM] Jon [Horst] in the front office.
“What I’ve said from the beginning of this year is that, out of my mouth and the way I’ve carried myself, you will never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck.”
Of course, multiple reports suggested otherwise before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, with ESPN insider Shams Charania reporting that the nine-time All-Star has been preparing to leave Milwaukee “for months,” either before the deadline or in the offseason.
“Legends don’t chase. They attract,” Antetokounmpo wrote in a social media post following the trade deadline.
The Bucks entered the break with a disappointing record of 23-30 and in 12th place in the East — but just 1.5 games behind the Hawks for the final spot in the 7-10 play-in tournament.
“Growing up, you dream, ‘Oh, what if I played for the Knicks, Madison Square Garden? What if I get drafted by the Lakers and I’m teammates with Kobe [Bryant]? What if I go play for the Cavs and LeBron [James] passes me the ball?’” Antetokounmpo said during the ESPN interview. “But this is my team, and I love it.”