Bucks GM Praises Giannis as 'Most Incredible Human, Superstar' amid Contract Rumors

It does not sound like Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst will have any hesitation in offering Giannis Antetokounmpo a contract extension in September.

"He is the most incredible human, superstar, teammate, leader, I believe, in all of sports and we're incredibly blessed to have him," Horst told Eric Nehm of The Athletic. "It's an awesome responsibility to win and compete every year to be in a position to keep him. I think that's my job and that's my responsibility and it's my opportunity and his opportunity and our team's opportunity. And Griff and (Bucks president) Peter Feigin share in that, as do our owners. I think it's really cool to have that chance to be able to do that. We've been able to do it so far, and we'll do everything we can to do it again."

The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo an extension worth $173 million over three years in September. ESPN's Brian Windhorst previously reported it's unlikely Antetokounmpo inks an extension this offseason given the questions regarding Milwaukee's aging supporting cast.

The Bucks have largely chosen to run things back with their core from last season, inking Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez to new contracts. Middleton is coming off an injury-plagued, disappointing season as Antetokounmpo's second-in-command, while Lopez was brilliant last year but turned 35 in April.

Milwaukee was shockingly ousted by the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs, thanks in large part to the supporting cast not being able to pull things together when Antetokounmpo went down with an injury.

The two-time MVP has been faithful to the Milwaukee organization throughout his career despite calls for him to seek a starrier locale. He signed a five-year, $228 million extension ahead of the 2020-21 season and was rewarded with his first championship that same year.

The Bucks have remained competitive each of the last two seasons, but their roster has shown strain. Middleton's injury woes left Milwaukee without a consistent 20-point scorer next to Antetokounmpo, and guard Jrue Holiday has started to take a step back at age 33.

Antetokounmpo is the only member of Milwaukee's true core who is under the age of 30. With the team also spending into the luxury tax, the avenues to improve the roster are minimal in the immediate future.

The Bucks' most noticeable change from last season to next is the departure of coach Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after their first-round exit. Milwaukee hired Adrian Griffin from the Toronto Raptors' bench to take over and hopefully provide the spark to get the team back in title contention.