Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Predicted To Request Trade Soon

Will Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo demand a trade during the 2025-26 season?

Giannis was floated in many a wild trade rumor this offseason as speculation mounted that the two-time MVP is unhappy with his title prospects Milwaukee.

Despite adding Myles Turner in a surprising move, the Bucks’ lack of depth and trade assets does limit their potential to contend.

And according to Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, Milwaukee’s feaux-contention could get ugly for Antetokounmpo as early as this upcoming season, when Hughes predicted that Giannis will request out.

“Myles Turner is an ideal big man to put next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it’s not going to matter,” Hughes wrote. “The Milwaukee Bucks are too short on supporting talent and too stripped of tradeable assets to fill out the rest of the roster in a way that makes championship contention realistic. It’s easy enough to stay optimistic about Milwaukee’s place in the East right now, but things will change once the actual games start.”

“Though Antetokounmpo has typically applied pressure to the Bucks in the offseason, which he did again this year by leaving his future plans undefined, he’s going to see the writing on the wall during the 2025-26 campaign and conclude there’s only one correct reaction.”

“Two MVPs, a DPOY and a title mean Antetokounmpo is already minted as a franchise legend,” Hughes continued. “But don’t be surprised if some portion of Milwaukee fans take issue with him waiting so long to ask for an exit. The Bucks have been bending over backwards, shipping out assets and doing everything they can to appease Antetokounmpo for years, and it’s hard to blame them. When you have a player like Giannis, you do whatever you can to keep him—even if it means sabotaging your future.”

“Had Antetokounmpo requested a trade two offseasons ago, when it was already becoming clear the Bucks were through as contenders, just imagine how much better positioned the organization would be today,” Hughes added. “Credit him for holding out hope, but also be ready for fans and pundits to criticize him for holding the organization hostage until the worst possible time.”

Antetokounmpo was his usual dominant self last season, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

Will the Greek Freak end up in a new uniform before the February 5 trade deadline? Time will tell, but one thing’s for certain: a trade request from Giannis would open up a bidding war of historic proportions, even by NBA standards.