Did Giannis Request Trade? Bucks' Doc Rivers Addresses Latest Rumors on Star's Future

With rumors once again swirling about Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks, head coach Doc Rivers addressed the latest reports.

Rivers said Antetokounmpo has never asked to be traded from Milwaukee.

"I want to make it clear for the—I want to say one more time—for the 50th time, and clearly it's not getting to one network, for sure, Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever," Rivers told reporters. "I can't make that more clear."

The trade rumors surrounding the two-time MVP were at their peak over the summer when ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo was open to being traded. Things cooled down over the offseason and into the regular season, but a recent move from Antetokounmpo has sparked more speculation.

Amid a rough start to the year, Antetokounmpo scrubbed his social media of most of his posts relating to the Bucks. He also changed his X bio to read "NBA Athlete" rather than specifying that he's with Milwaukee.

While that move surprised fans, ESPN's Brian Windhorst explained during an appearance on 850 ESPN Cleveland that the Bucks were not shocked because "he asked to be traded already."

Windhorst also noted that Antetokounmpo initially committed to staying with the Bucks this season, but the team's performance might have changed things.

Charania shed more light on the situation, reporting that Antetokounmpo and his agent "have started conversations" about his future, and are "discussing whether his best fit is staying or elsewhere."

While Antetokounmpo has spent his entire career in Milwaukee, becoming one of the most prolific Bucks ever in the process, it's easy to see why he might be frustrated at the moment.

He's putting up MVP numbers this year, averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists, yet the team is 9-13 and wouldn't even make the play-in tournament if the season ended now. Things have been especially rough as of late, as the Bucks have lost eight of their last nine games.

Since Milwaukee's championship in 2021, it has tried to duplicate that success but has fallen well short. The Bucks haven't won a playoff series since 2022 despite making drastic changes such as star player signings and head coaching firings.

At this point, it could be in the best interest of both Antetokounmpo and the Bucks for the two sides to move on from one another.