Giannis Antetokounmpo on his contract extension with the Bucks: 'I'm here. I'm committed.'

The three-year extension between the Milwaukee Bucks and two-time NBA most valuable player Giannis Antetokounmpo was made official during practice Tuesday afternoon, with their partnership now running through 2027-28.

Antetokounmpo, who will turn 29 on Dec. 6, will now be in Milwaukee deep into the second decade of his career.

The Bucks star, along with head coach Adrian Griffin and Pat Connaughton, met with the media after practice to discuss Antetokounmpo’s decision to sign the extension with two seasons remaining on his previous deal.

Here are some highlights:

Giannis, you were emphatic on Oct. 2 that it wasn’t in your best financial interest to sign this extension and you would wait until July. What changed your mind?

Antetokounmpo: As I said earlier, it wouldn’t make sense for me to sign, but I had a conversation with my family, GM (Thanasis Antetokounmpo), that it would make more sense for me to sign because I’d be able to – first of all, you don’t know what tomorrow holds – to have eligibility to re-sign in 2026 or I don’t remember when he told me, but that was the smartest thing to do. So I just kind of trust his thinking. But also for me it takes kind of like focus away from that. I don’t have to think about that. I don’t need the media talks to be about my contract and if I’m going to stay, if I’m going to leave. Because I knew in my heart that I wanted to stay. I don’t want people, when we lose a game to come back and say, ‘Oh, Giannis is being irritated, this, that, he’s going to leave, blah, blah, blah.’ No. The conversation right now is going to be straight basketball. How can we get better? How can we build good habits? How can we be on the court together and play as many minutes as we can together? How can we defend better? How can we get in the right spot and let Dame and Khris and all the guys operate to the best of their ability? Our focus is going to be straight, strictly basketball. I think I did it in the past. 2020. It was good for me because I didn’t have to think about it. I didn’t have to put myself in a situation, like, ‘Aww, what if? What if?’ I’m committed. I’m here. And I want with my teammates to be successful and I want to win another championship.

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Why have you wanted to stay in Milwaukee?

Antetokounmpo: Long answer but let me keep it short. One of my I don’t know disadvantages I’ll say that I’m very loyal. Even though you might hurt me or do something to me, I always try to forgive you. Or see the best in you. If you were there for me in the beginning I’m there for you for the rest of our lifetime. For the Milwaukee Bucks organization they’ve been there with me since the beginning, they changed my life, they changed my family life. My kids were born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that’s what their passport says. My mom is here enjoying her life, my dad spent a couple years here before he passed away…they’ve changed my life tremendously.

I’m extremely happy. I know the ins and outs of the city. The city shows me a lot of love and also whenever I go out there and have time with my family, they also give me space, which is crazy to me. When they see me on the street, give me space. They respect who I am as a person and what I’ve done for the city of Milwaukee. And for that, I can’t turn my back. Not now, not in the future, not never. And I want to be committed, I want to give back to the city of Milwaukee. We won one championship but I believe we can win a second. I’m going to try my best, I’m going to do  what I always do, which is try to have fun while playing the game and I hope I can create another parade in the near future that 600,000 people can stay home from work and be out there celebrating, no matter the color of your skin: White, Black, everybody be out there celebrating something that happened after 50 years.

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Was it helpful that you signed the extension before the season in 2020 to keep the focus on basketball?

Antetokounmpo: It was very helpful. I didn't have to think about it. And I don't think it's just helpful to me, it's helpful to the team too. They don't want to hear about, "Oh, Giannis is leaving; Giannis is staying", the whole year. They don't want to hear about how the Bucks are great or the Bucks suck. That's what you guys talk about. Not you guys. Guys that are not here. But yeah, it makes it easier because we just lock in and just focus on just basketball.

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You’ve signed three extensions here. You’ve always said you wanted to stay. Does it bother you that people still don’t believe you, or that it’s a surprise when you extend again?

Antetokounmpo: A lot of people don’t know me. A lot of people know me through things that they read or they watch me on TV. A lot of people see what other players do and assume I might do the same. But I’m going to be very honest with you – I’ve done what I said I would do since Day 1. And it hasn’t changed. That’s why God blesses me and puts me in position to wake up every single day to do what I love. Now at he end of the day – I’m not going to be given a championship. But I have the opportunity. Some people don’t even have the opportunity to wake up and think about a championship or think about going out there and competing on an NBA game. But at the end of the day, to answer your question, it’s OK that people don’t believe in me. A lot of people did not believe in me. Growing up, that’s not going to change.

The non-believers pushed me to the point that I am today. But, they’re gonna be there. They’re going to be there but I’m going to keep on doing what I do, keep on being me, keep on trying to represent the city of Milwaukee in the best way possible. For as long as they want me. Because people act like it’s guaranteed me. Nothing’s guaranteed. I’ve got to keep on being great, keep on leading my teammates, keep on winning games and keep on being healthy. I’ve seen a lot of people that they’re great and the moment they’re not healthy no more the team has to make the best decision for themselves. It’s business, man. I don’t take it personal. I might take it personal because I know these guys upstairs for a lot of years. But no, no. Keep on doing me. I’m here. I want to be here and I want to win another one and I hope I win another one.

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General thoughts on Antetokounmpo signing another extension with the Bucks.

Griffin: Well, first, I want to thank (general manager) Jon Horst, (assistant general manager) Milt (Newton) and his entire staff. They work very hard to put this together. A lot of credit goes to them. Obviously, I’m ecstatic about Giannis signing his extension. He’s the best player in the world. Having him commit for a few more years is amazing. But at the same time, what doesn’t change for us is just the work. We’ve still got a lot of work to do and it just starts with one practice at a time and one game at a time. We’re not losing sight of what’s really important, which is that we continue to build chemistry together on the court and off the court and get ready for this first game.”

Connaughton: I was ready for a few smiles today when I got into the facility from him. I think he’s a guy that loves to play the game of basketball.

For him to commit to being here for three more years on top of however many hears he had left, I cant really keep track, I think it’s great for the city, great for the team obviously. But I’m also just happy for him. You’ve got the family we all know but he’s got a wife, kids, he’s got a new baby girl, so all the things he does, I’m happy for him and happy that he can continue to play the game that he loves at a high level.

Before he signed his extension in 2020, players playfully gifted him pens to encourage him to sign. Any of that this time around?

Connaughton: I think Dame brought a pen. No, obviously last time we had some fun and games with it. I think this time we were all so focused on the offseason as far as getting each other individually better and the team better because of the way last season ended. We were all just so focused on the grind. Ironically, I think that’s something Giannis loves.

Did Antetokounmpo signing now as opposed to next summer eliminate a potential distraction during the season?

Griffin: Honestly, Giannis is not a distraction. He’s the best player in the world and I never looked at it like that. It’s a part of the business. We’re very fortunate that he decided to sign that extension. Again, Jon and his entire staff do an unbelievable job. We’re excited about our entire team. But it just proves he’s such a high character guy. We’re just fortunate to have someone as special as Giannis. He signed his extension yesterday and what not and he was the last person to leave today in the gym. That just tells you how special he is. He’s an extremely hard worker. He’s a guy that’s kind of relaying the mindset that we need. I was talking to the team about making every drill count, making every rep count and Giannis was mimicking everything that I as saying. I’m extremely fortunate to coach with, extremely fortunate to be a part of an organization to have someone like Giannis be the heart and soul of our team. Just extremely excited about this season and what we can be if we continue to do the work.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis Antetokounmpo on contract extension with Milwaukee Bucks