Antetokounmpo’s recruitment of Booker revealed! Inviting him to wear the same team jersey: “I’ll fight for you like Stewart did.”

On February 24th Beijing time, several American media reposted a moment between Giannis and Booker at the All-Star Weekend. During training, Giannis jokingly told Booker, “Brother, you look sharp no matter what you do, but your jersey isn’t matching mine. You should wear the same jersey as me. Like Isaiah Stewart, I’ll fight hard for you.” Booker smiled, shook his head, and turned away.

Even if it was just a joke, the connection between the two is significant: Giannis led the Bucks to defeat the Suns in the 2021 Finals to win the championship, a series still vivid in Suns fans’ memories. For Suns supporters, imagining Booker in a Bucks jersey feels almost surreal.

The Milwaukee Bucks currently hold a 24-31 record, ranking 11th in the Eastern Conference, 1.5 games behind the last play-in spot. This is far below the team’s expectations.

Giannis hasn’t played since suffering a calf injury on January 24th. Before the injury, he averaged 28 points and 5.6 assists per game, still performing at an MVP level. The team’s offense revolves around him with a clear style. Since his absence, the Bucks have struggled to move forward.

He was not traded at the deadline; management chose to continue betting on the current core. However, the 24-31 record shows there is no more margin for error.

When Giannis joked that another superstar should wear the same jersey as him, people might have laughed it off. But the underlying message is clear: he wants help now.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns hold a 33-25 record, seventh in the Western Conference, two games ahead of the Timberwolves, barely inside the playoff zone. But their situation is far from easy.

The team recently lost to the Trail Blazers. Booker suffered a right hip strain in the February 20th loss to the Spurs. Teammate Dillon will be out 4–6 weeks. Booker is the Suns’ engine. If his hip injury recurs, the Suns will be immediately affected. This gives Giannis’s on-camera recruitment a deeper meaning. Both recent title contenders now face injuries, roster doubts, and pressure on results.

Jokes aside, salary cap space is another matter. Booker carries a massive long-term contract: currently in a 4-year, over $220 million designated veteran max extension, with a salary exceeding $53 million in 2025–26. He has agreed to a 2-year max extension starting 2028–29, with annual pay over $66 million, including a player option in 2029–30 and a 10% trade guarantee. Such a contract is nearly impossible to move easily.

Giannis isn’t cheap either: a 3-year, $175 million extension through 2027–28, with a player option in the final year. His 2025–26 salary is over $54 million. For two max-level stars to team up, it would require a full roster overhaul between both teams. Just the salary calculations make this union nearly impossible unless a blockbuster trade shakes the league.

Yahoo Sports analyzed Giannis’s remarks —

This doesn’t mean Giannis’s words were careless. On the contrary, they are genuine. At 31, having won a championship and carried the Bucks for over a decade, he knows how narrow the championship window is.

When sidelined by a calf injury, watching your team struggle just to reach the play-in, your mind naturally drifts.

You start thinking about fit, clutch scoring, and who can share the load with you.

Booker can fulfill those roles on any team. His reaction says it all: smiling, laughing, without adding fuel to the fire. He understands his position — he is a franchise cornerstone, with corresponding status and treatment.

Two stars, two crossroads. The Bucks are fighting hard to maintain competitiveness in the East. The Suns are striving to climb to a more secure playoff spot in the West. Both teams face injuries at their worst moments.

Giannis’s words were a joke, not an official recruitment. But they reveal something very real: superstars always evaluate their environment, imagine better teammates, and consider how to maximize their peak years. This joke sparked discussion because it struck a nerve. In today’s NBA, even the lightest recruitment comment carries great weight.