The Milwaukee Bucks entered the 2025-26 season with high expectations around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the team has struggled to stay competitive in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo has missed significant time due to injury this season, most recently sustaining a right calf strain that is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks after an MRI, a setback that could keep him out through the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Antetokounmpo was averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game before the injury, and his absence has compounded Milwaukee’s challenges as they try to climb the standings.
The injury has also intersected with ongoing speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee, with sources reporting conversations between his representatives and the Bucks about his long-term fit.
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Although Antetokounmpo himself has publicly stated he has not personally engaged in trade discussions and has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to the organization, the narrative around his future persisted throughout the season.
As teams continue to monitor the situation of arguably the biggest name in trade discussions, Stein Line’s Jake Fischer provided an update on where the Bucks stand at the moment.
On Saturday, Fischer reported that the Bucks have grudgingly concluded that trading the two-time MVP might ultimately be best for both sides, given the team’s struggles, injury issues and broader uncertainty around their competitive window.
The Milwaukee Bucks have had a grudgingly realization that trading Giannis Antetokounmpo might finally be best for both sides, per @JakeLFischer
(https://t.co/442Cv0OKzs) pic.twitter.com/jyvXu8h8O4— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) January 24, 2026
This is a notable development from earlier in the season when Milwaukee consistently denied that the superstar was available and maintained that he was central to their plans.
If the Bucks were to explore a blockbuster trade, Antetokounmpo, a 13-year veteran and cornerstone of the franchise since being drafted in 2013, would be among the most impactful players ever moved in NBA history.
Any such deal would automatically swing the balance of power in the league, especially with teams like the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors previously linked as potential suitors before the injury.
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