Kofi Inkoom
Two time MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo has agreed to a three-year, $186 million maximum contract extension Milwaukee Bucks, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The deal includes a player option on the 2027-2028 season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski notes. Antetokounmpo was under contract until the 2025/26 season on his existing deal, with a final season option worth $51,935,268.
On the final day possible before next July, the Bucks’ superstar sealed the deal on an extension, albeit with an estimated value of $186 million, dependent on a maximum 10% salary cap increase in 2024 and 2025.
This extension’s breakdown consists of $57,604,893 for the 2025/26 season, $62,213,285 for the following season, and a player option at $66,821,676 for 2027/28.
Surprisingly, this move contradicts his earlier statement in a New York Times interview this summer, where he expressed hesitancy about signing an extension.
He had the option to wait until the next offseason, potentially securing a more substantial deal, but he chose to commit early. The addition of another superstar, Damian Lillard, to the Bucks likely influenced his decision.
This development had triggered widespread speculation that Antetokounmpo might seek a trade or explore free agency.
Nevertheless, his decision to sign the extension on Monday should quell such speculations, at least for the immediate future.