Giannis Antetokounmpo has officially started negotiations with the Milwaukee Bucks! He may join another team in the coming weeks after requesting a trade this summer.

On December 4th Beijing time, reporter Shams stated that Giannis and his agent Salazis are negotiating with the Milwaukee Bucks regarding the future of the two-time NBA regular season MVP, considering whether he should remain or transfer to another team. Sources say these talks are expected to conclude in the coming weeks, which will determine if Giannis will be placed on the trade list before the February 6th deadline.

Additionally, reporter Windhorst revealed that Giannis had requested a trade earlier this season.The Bucks reportedly contacted the Knicks to inquire about offers for Giannis because he wanted to go to New York.People were surprised when he deleted all his photos from social media, but he had long wanted to leave. Giannis currently plans to finish this season with the Bucks, but the team is performing poorly. When Giannis doesn’t play, the Bucks are 1-5; when he does, they are 9-8. The Bucks are only competitive when he’s on the court. As for where he might go, I don’t know, butI know he has submitted a trade requestand that he will stay with the Bucks this season, although the rest of the league expects him to leave next season.

Before this season started, Giannis had accepted the vision of General Manager Horst and Coach Rivers to build a championship-contending team. Sources say that before the season began, Giannis planned to observe the team’s performance in about the first 25 games and decide his long-term future based on whether the team could compete in the Eastern Conference. Currently, the Bucks have a 9-13 record, losing 8 of their last 9 games, placing them 11th in the East.Multiple sources say this losing streak has frustrated Giannis, the management, coaching staff, and other players. However, an insider bluntly stated that unless the Bucks experience a dramatic turnaround this season, Giannis’s departure is "inevitable and clearly signaled."

During the offseason, Giannis explored outside options and was explicitly willing to play for a team other than Milwaukee — specifically, the New York Knicks, who were considered a potential trade destination. Sources revealed that in August there was a window of several weeks during which the Knicks had exclusive negotiation rights with him, but this special status no longer exists.

If the Bucks open trade talks, multiple teams are expected to pursue this nine-time All-Star player as a potential acquisition.

Starting October 2, 2026, Giannis will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million maximum contract extension with the Bucks, lasting through the 2030-31 season. If traded to another team, he can sign an equivalent contract with his new team six months after the trade. During training camp this season, Giannis admitted he had thoughts of joining another team while reaffirming his desire to compete for a championship. Therefore, although he emphasized commitment to the Bucks at the season’s start, he left room for change, saying “it’s natural to change your mind.”

Meanwhile, the Bucks originally believed that a strong season performance would quell trade rumors about their superstar, and they did start with a solid 4-1 record. However, the team failed to maintain that level, especially struggling badly in games without Giannis.

Last month, Giannis missed four consecutive games due to a groin injury, during which the Bucks lost all four games. Over the entire season, the Bucks have managed only a 1-5 record without him. Even after his return last week, the team has only gone 1-2, including a surprising loss on Monday to the Washington Wizards, who had previously won just 2 of 18 games.

When Giannis is on the court, the Bucks score 126.9 points per 100 possessions, ranking first in the league; without him, their scoring drops sharply to 107.7 points per 100 possessions, which is the third worst in the NBA.

About to turn 31 this week, Giannis is averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game this season, shooting 64% from the field.