The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers are among the franchises that have their sights set on poaching Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks this summer.
There’s no question that landing the two-time MVP would do wonders for both organizations, but a recent report regarding Antetokounmpo isn’t good news for the two Western Conference contenders.
“As of today, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks,” Antetokounmpo told ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Sunday. “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.”
If Antetokounmpo meant every word he said, the Lakers and Warriors could be in trouble in the offseason.
Of course, the Warriors would be in worse shape than the Lakers, as Jimmy Butler’s status for the 2026-27 season is unclear, and it’s unlikely that Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porzingis are a daunting enough duo to lead the Dubs to the promised land if Butler is unavailable.
From the Lakers’ perspective, Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic would wreak havoc in the Western Conference for years to come, making them a target worth going all out for. If Antetokounmpo elects to stick it out with the Bucks for the foreseeable future, the Lakers won’t get an opportunity to drastically improve their championship odds.
The Warriors and Lakers should hope the Bucks end their season on a sour note and that Antetokounmpo changes his stance toward the franchise that selected him with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
