Rival superstars began to reach out to Giannis Antetokounmpo during this past offseason pitching new collaborations, sources tell ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Sources also tell ESPN that rival teams had begun preparing for a potential bidding war to trade for Antetokounmpo should he become available.
“I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship … and if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing,” Antetokounmpo told the New York Times in August.
The interview created an idea around the NBA that Antetokounmpo could consider leaving the Bucks in the future.
But the Bucks’ front office had already begun trying to trade for Damian Lillard and executed a deal shortly before media day.
Antetokounmpo responded by initially announcing he would sign an extension with the Bucks in 2024 before deciding to do so on the eve of the current season.