With all eyes on Giannis Antetokounmpo over the previous week following his feedback about his NBA future, star teammate Khris Middleton shared his ideas on the Bucks famous person’s future with the staff.
During a latest interview with ESPN, Middleton addressed Antetokounmpo bluntly stating he might see himself being a Bucks lifer so long as the staff stays dedicated to successful one other championship. To some, the feedback gave the impression to be a veiled trace at a possible future exit, however in Middleton’s estimation, the two-time MVP was, as a substitute, shedding mild on a enterprise mindset he’s maintained for years.
“I think it’s kind of business as usual either way,” Middleton mentioned. “It doesn’t affect me personally. I don’t think it affects us as a team. I think this is something he said almost every year he’s come up in contract extension talks.”
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As a member of the Bucks for all 11 of the Greek Freak’s seasons, Middleton, who’s been restricted by accidents the previous two seasons, additionally shared that he interpreted Antetokounmpo’s remarks as a problem to himself and the staff to maintain getting higher.
Antetokounmpo, a potential free agent in the summertime of 2024, might reset the stability of energy ought to Milwaukee, the 2021 NBA champions, fail to ink him to a different deal. The 28-year-old has two years remaining on his present contract, together with a participant choice for a 3rd 12 months, and might be eligible for his subsequent extension on Friday.
Said Middleton, “He’s one of the best players in franchise history. So when he says things like that, I think he just wants to challenge the team, the organization, to keep putting us in position to win championships. But I think it’s just something that he just wants to keep putting pressure on everybody. And that’s himself also.
“He’s not just pointing a finger at everybody else saying, ‘You guys have to do this for me.’ I think he’s putting that pressure on himself to be better, to come in and be great every year. So there’s no pressure on, there’s no added pressure when he says that to us as a team, or me as a person, that I have to be better.”
While Middleton could also be stating the plain in some regards, the choices made by Bucks brass over the following few months will probably loom massive with Antetokounmpo, and one other key participant in Jrue Holiday, doubtlessly hitting free company in July.
Following a season ended by the Heat in a shocking first-round upset, Milwaukee has since made a number of strikes, together with changing coach Mike Budenholzer with Adrian Griffin and signing Middleton and middle Brook Lopez—starters on the ’21 title staff— to three- and two-year extensions, respectively.
Source: www.si.com
