Giannis Reportedly Lost 'Significant Bonus' in Nike Contract from Bucks Not Playing Him

Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly took a hit in his endorsement pay because of the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to sit him with what the team has described as left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday that "multiple sources said the Bucks' decision to sit Antetokounmpo cost him a significant bonus in his Nike endorsement contract that would have been triggered if he played at least 41 games."

Antetokounmpo had played 36 games before the Bucks shut him down in mid-March.

The Bucks star has since told reporters he is healthy and ready to play but being held back by his team, a claim backed by the National Basketball Players Association. The NBA has announced an ongoing investigation into the issue.

The Bucks have just four games remaining in the season, starting with Tuesday night's road game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Antetokounmpo is currently signed through the 2026-27 season at a $58.5 million cap hit with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.

His Nike deal was reportedly worth "up to $10 million per year" at the time he renewed his contract with the brand in 2017, according to Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

That contract includes incentives for Antetokounmpo, including bonuses his MVP wins in 2019 and 2020, per Forbes.

The league said in a Saturday statement that "certain facts remain in dispute" between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, including whether the team had requested the star join a group workout amid his recovery from injury last week.

That statement was released after Antetokounmpo told reporters he was "available to play, but I'm not in the game," per The Athletic's Eric Nehm.

"For some people's eyes, it's not worth it for me to be out there," Antetokounmpo said, per Nehm. "But for me, it's something that goes against my nature, man."

The Bucks are currently projected to receive the No. 10 pick in the upcoming draft, although the team also holds three percent odds at the top selection, per Tankathon.

Antetokounmpo was sidelined around the trade deadline with a calf injury that kept him out for 15 games. At the time of his March 2 return, the Bucks ranked 11th in the East with a 26-33 record.

The Bucks had not climbed any higher by Antetokounmpo's last game on March 15, by which point the franchise had slipped to 28-39.

According to Charania, Bucks coach Doc Rivers told players before the team was eliminated from play-in contention on March 28 "that ownership was monitoring whether they would play in the final 10 games."

Rivers reportedly told veterans Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner "ownership did not want them to sit because of illegitimate injuries," but Charania reported that "no such edict was delivered from the Bucks to Antetokounmpo."

According to Charania, "the highest levels of the organization have come to terms with the inevitability of a likely deal coming to fruition this offseason."

The Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors were among the teams pursuing Antetokounmpo at the February trade deadline, per Charania. Those teams could potentially re-engage in talks this summer if this late-season dispute increases the odds the Bucks move on from their superstar this offseason.