Milwaukee Bucks Set for Long Run with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Extension

The Milwaukee Bucks are among the top contenders for the NBA Championship in 2020-2021. Despite falling in the Eastern Conference finals two years ago and semi-finals last season, the Bucks were top seed and have reigning two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now there is even better news for the organization after extending Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract for multiple years.

The details of the extension, as told by agent Alex Startsis to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnaroswki, is for five-year and $228 million with an opt-out after the fourth year. Should Giannis Antetokounmpo have declined the offer, he would have become a free agent next season, but that was something he clearly wasn’t going to do. Antetokounmpo made it well-known that Milwaukee is his home and is looking forward to making the most of the next five years, which includes bringing a championship or several to Milwaukee. The contract extension is well worth the money the Bucks have to dish out. Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the elite group of Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan as the only players to win Defensive Player of the Year and league MVP in the same season.

Born in Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo was playing in Greece before the Bucks selected him 15th in the 2013 NBA draft. After mediocre first two seasons in the NBA, Antetokounmpo improved to near All-Star level and took off the last four seasons. He became the first Bucks player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win league MVP and advance the Bucks past the first round of the NBA playoffs. The next goal is to do what the Bucks haven’t done since 1974 and that is to reach the NBA Finals and then capture their first championship since 1971. Now that the big piece is in place, the Bucks need to stay committed to putting the proper supporting players around him to make championship runs.

The signing of D.J. Augustin, Byrn Forbes, Pat Connaughton and Torry Craig might not be front-page worthy news, but it adds depth, which is key to any title contending team. In addition, former Louisville forward Jordan Nwora was selected in the 2020 NBA Draft. Antetokounmpo is excited about what the future has in store. He realizes the team has improved each season. As Giannis Antetokounmpo is nearing his prime seasons, he has what it takes to lead the Milwaukee Bucks on a championship run. It would be a shock if the Bucks don’t secure at least one title over the duration of his contract extension.