Milwaukee Bucks

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Giannis Antetokounmpo threw down on the NBA this season with his highlight-reel dunks. Relive every one of his dunks from the 2018-19 NBA season and playoffs in the video above.

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Even after a disappointing end to the season for the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to run it back with the same squad next year. 

"I want everybody back," the All-Star said Monday, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. "Great frickin' team."

Milwaukee had the best record in the NBA this season at 60-22, but the squad was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals after suffering four straight losses to the Toronto Raptors.

Bringing everyone back would certainly keep the Bucks in title contention, especially considering the added experience from this playoff run. Prior to this season, the organization hadn't won a playoff series since 2001.

Unfortunately, keeping this team together could be easier said than done.

If Khris Middleton declines his $13 million player option as expected, he will join fellow starters Brook Lopez and Malcolm Brogdon as free agents this summer. Nikola Mirotic is also a free agent while George Hill has an $18 million contract that won't be fully guaranteed until July 1.

The team likely won't be able to afford all of these players, which means the front office will have to choose who to keep.

Malika Andrews of ESPN reported Milwaukee will likely try to keep Middleton and Brogdon, while Lopez would be the "priority" choice between him, Mirotic and Hill.

Middleton is likely the most important factor this offseason with the guard coming off his first career All-Star selection. If he hits the open market, there could be a lot of demand around the league with teams who value his two-way ability.

Though he has been a key part of the Bucks success, they might not be able to afford him.

Still, Antetokounmpo clearly wants as many of his teammates to return as possible so he can have another chance at a title in 2020.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly walked out of his postgame press conference following the Milwaukee Bucks' Game 6 loss to the Toronto Raptors because he was unhappy with a report written by ESPN.com's Malika Andrews.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on Monday's episode of First Take that he spoke to Andrews, who said Antetokounmpo caught wind of the report about his future in Milwaukee and walked out because he refused to answer her question:

"So inside of a 15- to 20-minute period after losing the game, he was made aware of an article that [Andrews] had written where basically she did her homework, spoke to a multitude of people and was thoroughly informed that, again, a lot of his, you know, decision-making as it pertains to his willingness to stay in Milwaukee are tied to reaching the NBA Finals. If Milwaukee's progress towards the Finals is impeded in any way, this season, next season, etc. at some point in time, he's going to want his way out. In a period of 20 minutes, in the immediate aftermath of suffering the most devastating loss of his professional career, he got wind of that story, and he was not happy about it."

Andrews' report poses the possibility that Antetokounmpo may want to leave Milwaukee if the team does not make enough improvements to reach the NBA Finals next season. Three Bucks starters will be free agents this summer: Khris Middleton (player option), Brook Lopez and Malcolm Brogdon (restricted). Management will be tasked with deciding whether running it back or making adjustments to the core is the best course of action.

The Bucks can present Antetokounmpo with a five-year supermax contract that would pay him $247.3 million over five seasons next summer. It would be the richest deal in NBA history, but supermaxes have not always enticed players into staying with their teams.

Kawhi Leonard requested a trade from the San Antonio Spurs last summer even though the supermax was on the table. Anthony Davis informed the New Orleans Pelicans he has no interest in signing a potential supermax this summer and wants to be traded. Only four players—Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and John Wall—have signed supermax deals.

Antetokounmpo has publicly remained fiercely loyal to the Bucks, but it's fair to wonder about his future. He's the overwhelming favorite to be the league MVP, has a growing brand outside basketball and does not play in a destination that typically attracts big names. The Bucks have to add stars via the draft or through trades with hopes they ultimately re-sign.

Milwaukee may have just seen the limits to how far a team with Middleton as its second-best player can go. If Antetokounmpo looks at the lay of the land and sees a team in neutral, it's possible he could reverse course and become the latest star to request a trade.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had enough of the media when his season ended early Saturday night following his team's 100-94 Game 6 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

The forward walked out of the press conference after a question from ESPN's Malika Andrews:

The reporter asked both Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton whether they felt experience was a factor in their elimination in the Eastern Conference Finals.

It's possible Antetokounmpo could have taken offense to the question or the reporter asking it, as Andrews published a piece Saturday night claiming the MVP candidate could be headed out of Milwaukee when he becomes a free agent.

"A source close to Antetokounmpo said that getting to the NBA Finals is not just an ambition, it could tip the scales as he weighs his contractual future," Andrews wrote.

In any case, it's not a good look for a player who was clearly frustrated after losing his fourth straight game.   

The Milwaukee Bucks will have some difficult financial decisions in the offseason, but re-signing center Brook Lopez will be a "priority," according to Malika Andrews of ESPN.com.

Andrews noted the team will likely have to choose between Nikola Mirotic, George Hill and Lopez, and the latter is likely the squad's best option going forward.

Lopez was a steal for the Bucks in the offseason, signing a one-year deal for only $3.4 million. This was a significant drop from his more than $20 million per year in each of the past three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.

The numbers weren't always impressive—his 12.5 points per game were the lowest of his career—but he was the perfect fit within the offense while further developing his outside shot and raising his efficiency. Not only did he set a new career high with 187 made three-pointers, but his effective field goal percentage of 57.1 was also a personal best.

Only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe had more win shares than Lopez this season on the Bucks, per Basketball Reference.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old is coming off an impressive series against the Toronto Raptors that will likely resonate with the decision-makers in the front office.

Lopez averaged 15.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the Eastern Conference Finals, including 29 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in a Game 1 win. He also had 18 points and nine rebounds in the Game 6 loss Saturday, including 11 points in the fourth quarter.

A former teammate gave high praise down the stretch:

The center was responsible for nine of the last 13 points of the team's season before being eliminated, showing he is willing to fight to the end.

There will likely be significant demand for Lopez in the offseason, but the fit makes sense for both sides to agree to a new deal.

The Milwaukee Bucks saw their season end Saturday after their fourth straight loss to the Toronto Raptors, but Mike Budenholzer doesn't agree with a common complaint that Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't playing enough.

"I don't think Giannis playing 44 minutes is the solution," the Bucks head coach said after the 100-94 Eastern Conference Finals loss. "If we can't win with Giannis at 40, 40.5 [minutes], then Toronto deserves it."

Budenholzer also noted that his All-Star only sat for about three minutes in the entire second half.

Antetokounmpo finished with 41 minutes in the Game 6 loss, finishing with 21 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Milwaukee was plus-three when he was on the court, meaning the team was minus-nine in the seven minutes without him.

No other starter finished with a positive number in the plus-minus category.

The forward saw a big jump in minutes this series, averaging 38.5 over the six games after playing just 34.0 minutes per contest against the Boston Celtics. He was on the court for just 32.7 minutes per game during the regular season, with plenty of blowouts to help ease the load.

As Budenholzer explained, however, it's on the rest of the team to pick up the slack when the star is on the bench. Without more depth next season, the Bucks could have a tough time winning a title.    

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's season is over after the Toronto Raptors eliminated his team in the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday.

Although the year ended in disappointment, the 24-year-old led his team to a league-best 60-22 record and will almost assuredly win the NBA MVP award.

The Bucks now turn to the future, which involves efforts to lock up Antetokounmpo on a long-term contract. He has only two years left on his deal, but the Bucks can offer him a supermax contract projected to be worth $247 million over five years, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.

The issue is whether Antetokounmpo will accept it. As ESPN.com's Malika Andrews noted, Antetokounmpo loves Milwaukee, but a 2020 NBA Finals run may be needed as a kicker to convince him to stay:

"Antetokounmpo has consistently made public proclamations of his love for Milwaukee, as he grew up and became acclimated to American culture in Cream City after moving from Greece. Antetokounmpo adores the Bucks medical staff. His mother moved to Milwaukee. But he is all about winning. In more concrete terms, a source close to Antetokounmpo said that getting to the NBA Finals is not just an ambition, it could tip the scales as he weighs his contractual future.

"And if they can reach the NBA Finals next season, the Bucks can improve their chances of signing Antetokounmpo to the supermax in the summer of 2020."

Antetokounmpo abruptly left his postgame presser Saturday after Andrews asked a question to him and Khris Middleton regarding the team's experience:

The Bucks have a murky future ahead with Malcolm Brogdon and Brook Lopez entering free agency and Middleton doing the same if he turns down his 2019-20 player option. Milwaukee may not be able to climb back near the mountaintop so easily.

It'll be hard for Milwaukee to keep all three players, but retaining two isn't impossible to fathom. The Bucks have a lot of money coming off the ledger in 2020-21 and are only locked into Eric Bledsoe past that season, per HoopsHype.

On the flip side, Milwaukee could reach its first NBA Finals since 1974 even if it does lose some talent given the Eastern Conference's potentially weakened state.

Only five teams finished with better than a 42-40 record this year, and only three won more than 50 games. The Raptors were one of those teams but could potentially lose superstar forward Kawhi Leonard in free agency.

Meanwhile, the 51-31 Philadelphia 76ers might be without Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, although having All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons is a nice fallback plan.

The Boston Celtics just finished off a disappointing season and could have an entirely different look next year, especially with All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving and center Al Horford free to head elsewhere.

If a 2020 NBA Finals run does impact Antetokounmpo's Bucks future, then Milwaukee may be just fine. The Bucks have to handle some other business in the interim, however, starting with the players about to come off the books.

Even with the Milwaukee Bucks on the brink of elimination after dropping three straight games to the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo has not lost confidence in his team.

"We are the best team in the league. We are not going to fold," the MVP finalist said after a 105-99 loss in Game 5 on Thursday, according to ESPN's Malika Andrews. "If we lose, we lose, but we are not going to fold. That's not what we do." 

He added, per Andrews: "I'm pissed. I'm not going to lie to you. ... As much as I'm pissed and frustrated about this game it's in the past."

Antetokounmpo had yet another strong performance in Game 5, posting 24 points, six rebounds, six assists and one block in the losing effort. While he shot just 25.6 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season, he went 2-of-3 from distance Thursday, making one to cut his team's deficit to two points with just over four minutes remaining.

The Bucks posted the best record in the NBA during the regular season at 60-22 and didn't lose three consecutive games at any point during their first 95 outings (postseason included). However, they now find themselves searching for answers with their season on the line.

The Bucks had the best defensive rating (104.9) in the league during the regular season. They allowed just 101.5 points per game while going 10-1 through their first 11 postseason contests. But in the last three games—all losses—they have allowed 114.3 points per game while posting a 110.3 defensive rating.

Antetokounmpo noted the Bucks "created great habits" throughout the season, which could help them snap their skid: 

Milwaukee now faces the difficult task of going to Toronto and needing to win in order to extend the series. The Raptors (32-9) tied for the third-best home record in the NBA during the regular season and are 7-2 at home in the playoffs, including a 2-0 mark during this series.

The Bucks, though, were responsible for two of the Raptors' nine home losses during the regular season.

Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer had a message for officials after Giannis Antetokounmpo attempted only nine free throws in a 105-99 loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 on Thursday night.

"It just feels like he should be at the free-throw line more," Budenholzer said after the game (around the 14:00 mark), according to CBS Sports' Reid Forgrave. 

Budenholzer made sure to note the officials have a "tough job."

Antetokounmpo entered the game having averaged 10.3 free-throw attempts per game in the series, reaching double figures three times through the first four contests. The Greek Freak was just 26-for-41 (63.4 percent) from the line for the series entering Game 5.

Thursday night's total fell right in line with Antetokounmpo's regular-season rate. He averaged 9.5 free-throw attempts per game during the regular season, converting 72.9 percent of the time. 

While officials tend to let players be more physical during the postseason, Toronto held a decided advantage from the free-throw line in Game 5. The Raptors had 31 free-throw attempts (though four came on intentional fouls in the final minute) compared to the Bucks' 18. And that happened in Milwaukee while facing the potential league MVP.

Even though Budenholzer believes there should have been more free throws for his team, Antetokounmpo still managed a solid stat line. He posted 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting, six rebounds, six assists and one block. 

And that strong performance comes despite the fact that he was bleeding at one point in the game:

Antetokounmpo was, however, whistled for five fouls in 39 minutes.

Budenholzer's comments will do nothing to change the result of Game 5, but by airing his beef with the referees, he will be hoping for adjustments to be made for the final game(s) of the series. 

It's a good time to be Giannis Antetokounmpo, who could win his first NBA MVP award this season and is now eligible to sign the largest contract extension in league history.

After the Milwaukee Bucks star was named to his second consecutive All-NBA First Team Thursday, ESPN's Bobby Marks pointed out what this means if he decides to re-sign:

Per Spotrac, Russell Westbrook's $206.8 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder is currently the largest deal in the NBA. 

Whispers about Antetokounmpo's future have been ongoing prior to the start of this season. 

One former NBA general manager told HoopsHype's Alex Kennedy in September he "would bet everything I own" Antetokounmpo leaves the Bucks, either by forcing a trade or when his current deal expires after the 2020-21 season. 

A lot has changed in the eight months since the GM made those comments. The Bucks posted the NBA's best record during the regular season (60-22) and are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Raptors. 

The Bucks' success is going to force them to make some critical personnel decisions over the next 12 months. In addition to Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton can opt out of his deal this summer and Nikola Mirotic will be an unrestricted free agent when this season ends. 

Head coach Mike Budenholzer implemented a system that unlocked more of Antetokounmpo's potential. The 24-year-old could become the first Milwaukee player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971-72 to be named NBA MVP after averaging a career high 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.