Giannis Antetokounmpo

The three All-NBA teams were announced Wednesday, led by Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the first team:

Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is a finalist for that award again this season, was also named to the first team for the second year in a row.

Giannis and LeBron were the only unanimous selections for the first team, per Erik Horne of The Athletic.

James Harden was named first-team All-NBA for the fifth straight season, while Luka Doncic made his first appearance on an All-NBA team in his second season.

Doncic becomes the first player to earn first-team All-NBA honors in one of his first two seasons since Tim Duncan in 1999, per Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.

There was also history made with James' selection, as the 35-year-old became the first player ever to be named All-NBA in 16 seasons. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan all had 15 appearances on the all-league teams.

This is the 13th time he was named to the first team.

Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook were each honored for the ninth time by a panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Jayson Tatum, Pascal Siakam and Ben Simmons each earned their first selections this year.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid earned three first-place votes, but it wasn't enough to get an All-NBA spot. 

Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal also fell short of the third team despite finishing second in the NBA with an average of 30.5 points per game. He was snubbed for the All-Star Game as well this season.

Few questions in the NBA remain larger than the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks may not have much doubt about the outcome, though.

The Athletic's Eric Nehm and Sam Amick noted Milwaukee's conference semifinal playoff exit inevitably impacts the situation but spoke to a source who said the Bucks have "had confidence for quite some time now that Antetokounmpo would sign the supermax."

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported on Saturday that Antetokounmpo met with Bucks ownership "to discuss the future of the franchise." That isn't atypical since players always have exit interviews with their team at the end of a season.

The 25-year-old's pending free agency in 2021 obviously adds a layer of intrigue to any sort of standard offseason business.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Bucks co-governor Marc Lasry indicated during the meeting the team will be willing to spend into the luxury tax to improve the roster.

That's an important distinction because this year's disappointing finish showed how Milwaukee requires reinforcements in order to make a run to the NBA Finals. Finances were also one reason why the team didn't re-sign starter Malcolm Brogdon, which looks like a mistake after the guard played well in his first season with the Indiana Pacers after being part of a sign-and-trade.

Given the increased frequency of marquee stars changing teams, nobody would be surprised to see Antetokounmpo sign elsewhere in 2021. Much like when Kevin Durant became available in 2016, the reigning MVP will have a number of franchises willing to go above and beyond to win him over.

The Los Angeles Clippers' playoff collapse is an example of how assembling stars isn't always the quickest path to a championship, though. Continuity and collective strength count for something when it comes to the postseason.

The Miami Heat exposed the Bucks' flaws, which extend from roster construction to coaching and to even areas in which their best player can improve. Milwaukee's outlook could look much different this time next season.

After a near-sweep of the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic knew his team's road to an NBA Championship wouldn't get any easier with the challenge of the third-seeded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

During media availability over the weekend, Heat guard Goran Dragic said that while the Bucks did have league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on their side, he didn't have much help on the court. The challenge in the next round would come not just from All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, but from the support he had around him:

"I still think Giannis doesn't have so much help than [Jayson] Tatum. If you look, he got around Kemba [Walker] and [Jaylen] Brown. He's the leader of that team, no doubt. We need to prepare for him, but we cannot just throw out the whole defense at him and forget about other guys.

"Brown was huge for them, Kemba too. So they have a lot of guys who feed off of him, and he demonstrated that he's an all-around player. He can make plays for himself, he can make plays for others, so it's going to have to be a team defense."

Ahead of Tuesday's start to the Eastern Conference Finals, Tatum led the Celtics with 25.3 points per game (12th leaguewide during the playoffs), with 10.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 blocks. Walker, an All-Star in each of the past four seasons, and Brown both added upward of 19 points in the postseason. Guard Marcus Smart earned the league's Hustle Award in 2019, when he was also named to the All-Defensive team.

Even though Tatum led all scorers in Game 1 with 30 points, Dragic's approach was successful—he paced the Heat with 29 points in their 117-114 overtime victory.

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals is Thursday at 7 p.m.

Any rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo wanting out of Milwaukee can quiet down a bit longer.

On Tuesday, the Bucks superstar posted his second tweet since getting eliminated from the playoffs, and he made it clear he doesn't want to play anywhere else next season. 

Antetokounmpo recently met with Bucks co-governor Marc Lasry about the future of the organization. Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported the Bucks are "expected to be one of the busiest teams this offseason" in pursuit of a championship. 

The 25-year-old is eligible to receive a supermax extension this offseason, and after the stunningly early playoff exit, there was some concern about whether he'd attempt to force his way out of Milwaukee. 

That seems settled now. 

While it may seem silly to give so much credence to an offseason tweet, it isn't just the portion about returning to Milwaukee that's worth noting. The MVP went on to reference his own quote about staying the course when things get tough. 

"Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it," Antetokounmpo told Haynes. "We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

In his tweet on Tuesday, Antetokounmpo used the hashtag #ThroughTheWall. 

Expect him not only to return to the Bucks next season, but to come back as hungry as ever as he looks to deliver a title to the only franchise he's ever known.

The Milwaukee Bucks will reportedly be able to offer superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo a five-year supermax contract worth from $220 million to $250 million when free agency begins in October.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the update Monday.

Milwaukee is unsurprisingly planning to offer Antetokounmpo the supermax, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The bigger question is whether the 2019 NBA Most Valuable Player, who may soon add another MVP trophy to his collection, will accept the Bucks' offer or play out the final season of his four-year, $100 million contract and become an unrestricted free agent in 2021.

Giannis and the Bucks were eliminated by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last week. The four-time All-Star dealt with an ankle injury during the latter stages of the series, but the Heat were already well on their way to the conference finals.

The 25-year-old Greece native wouldn't tip his hand about the contract situation, but he confirmed to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes that he won't demand a trade in the offseason.

"It's not happening. That's not happening," Antetokounmpo said. "Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

He had a Friday meeting with agent Alex Saratsis and Bucks co-governor Marc Lasry, who said the team is willing to spend into the luxury tax to help Giannis' supporting cast, per Wojnarowski.

Milwaukee has strong depth, led by Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe, which is a key reason they led the NBA with a 56-17 record. Star power is more significant in the playoffs, however, and the roster doesn't feature another bona fide superstar alongside Antetokounmpo.

Getting another high-end player, preferably a wing or perimeter scorer, will likely be necessary to bring the Bucks their first championship since 1971.

That said, it could prove difficult to attract another star this offseason if Antetokounmpo doesn't first sign an extension.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly held a three-hour lunch with Milwaukee Bucks governor Marc Lasry on Friday to discuss the future of the organization, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The two spoke about ways to improve the roster going into 2020-21, and Lasry confirmed the Bucks would spend into the luxury tax if needed. The two will reportedly speak again after the star returns from vacation.

Antetokounmpo has one year remaining on his contract, and there are questions about his future with the team after the Bucks suffered a second-round loss to the Miami Heat. It was the second straight season Milwaukee had the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference but failed to reach the NBA Finals.   

Despite the disappointment, Antetokounmpo indicated he would not request a trade.

"It's not happening. That's not happening," he told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. "Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

Milwaukee returns much of the rotation going into next season, including Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and George Hill. Their salaries could make it difficult to upgrade the roster, but Haynes reported the Bucks "are expected to be one of the busiest teams this offseason."

Antetokounmpo is eligible for a five-year, $254 million supermax extension this offseason, but the meeting with Lasry was likely necessary to provide assurances about the direction of the Bucks.

If the 25-year-old does decide to leave, numerous teams will hope to sign a player who already has one MVP award and is a favorite to win a second this season. The forward averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists and won the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Danny Leroux of The Athletic reported the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks could all be options for Giannis in free agency, while the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics could be potential destinations through trades.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly met with Milwaukee Bucks leadership on Saturday to discuss the team's future following a second-round exit from the NBA postseason. 

According to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, Antetokounmpo sat privately with co-owner Marc Lasry.

Antetokounmpo has repeatedly said he wants to win in Milwaukee, though he has one year left on his contract and remains one of the most coveted players in the NBA. 

It's not unusual for players to have exit interviews following the season, with meetings often including the general manager and coaching staff. 

In Antetokounmpo's case, there's a few more levels involved. 

The forward is eligible for a super-max extension Haynes estimates at $254 million over five years. Still just 25 years old, with one MVP award in tow and likely another on the way this year, Antetokounmpo and his next pact could determine the fate of the Eastern Conference for the next few seasons. 

As Haynes notes, that has plenty of rival teams keeping close tabs on the situation. 

Haynes wrote Milwaukee is committed to building a championship-caliber roster and is expected to make a flurry of moves this offseason. 

Getting Antetokounmpo to sign an extension a year before he hits free agency ranks as the most important item on the Bucks' to-do list. It appears there's plenty of mutual interest there. 

"Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it," Antetokounmpo told Haynes. "We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly preparing to offer MVP forward Giannis Antetokounmpo a five-year supermax contract extension as soon as the 2020 NBA free-agent period opens.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Thursday the Bucks will also "prioritize acquiring a playmaker and more shooting in the offseason to retool the roster around Antetokounmpo" after the Miami Heat eliminated them from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Offering Antetokounmpo the supermax, which Charania noted will likely fall between $221.3 million and $233.5 million depending on the salary cap, is a no-brainer. The bigger question is whether the four-time All-Star will sign it.

The 25-year-old Greece native has one season remaining on his four-year, $100 million contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent in the 2021 offseason if he doesn't sign an extension.

Last October, concerns arose about Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee after quotes emerged in which he discussed the factors he might consider when deciding whether to stay with the Bucks.

In a study about the challenges faced by small-market NBA teams in retaining star players, Harvard Business School professor Anita Elberse and her co-author, master's student Melcolm Ruffin, cited Antetokounmpo as saying: "I want the Bucks to build a winning culture. So far, we have been doing great, and, if this lasts, there's no other place I want to be. But if we're underperforming in the NBA next year, deciding whether to sign becomes a lot more difficult."

He later said he'd been misquoted.

Although the Bucks finished with the best record in the NBA (56-17) as the Greek Freak put himself in strong contention to win a second straight MVP award, they fell short of expectations in the postseason with the second-round exit.

Antetokounmpo suffered an ankle injury in Game 3 and aggravated it in Game 4, which forced him to miss Game 5 as the Bucks' season came to a close. It was a factor in their elimination, but Miami was the better team in the series, building a 3-0 lead before closing it out with Giannis sidelined.

The Bucks' need for another impact shooter or two is apparent. They finished 17th in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (35.5) and shot at the same level in the postseason (35.8 percent) to rank 11th out of 16 playoff teams.

An Antetokounmpo extension would increase the duration of Milwaukee's championship window, but if he decides to keep his options open, it may be championship-or-bust for the organization next season.

Mere hours after their playoff exit, the postmortems are being written for the Milwaukee Bucks, and speculation about reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is reaching a fever pitch.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported the Bucks are the "clear favorites" to sign Antetokounmpo when he becomes a free agent in 2021. However, the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks are lining up a possible offer, and the Los Angeles Clippers are considering all of their options in a potential sign-and-trade.

"One of the sources said Giannis has an 'admiration' for Clippers head coach Doc Rivers," O'Connor wrote.

Immediately following Milwaukee's 103-94 defeat to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of their second-round matchup, Antetokounmpo indicated he won't request a trade to expedite his exit.

"It's not happening. That's not happening," he said to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. "Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

ESPN's Tim Bontemps also spoke to multiple sources who "are adamant that the Bucks won't trade" Antetokounmpo if he doesn't sign a supermax extension.

There's almost no scenario in which dealing the four-time All-Star makes sense for Milwaukee. Even if Antetokounmpo makes it clear he has no intention of re-signing, there's no telling when the Bucks will be this close to a title for the foreseeable future.

The Toronto Raptors showed how going all-in for one season can be the right approach when you're on the cusp of a breakthrough. They acquired Kawhi Leonard with no reassurances as to his long-term future, and Leonard was instrumental in their championship run.

The big question ahead for general manager Jon Horst is how he supplements Antetokounmpo for next season, since it's abundantly clear the supporting cast needs to improve.

The New York Times' Marc Stein reported some inside the league expect the Bucks to make a run at Oklahoma City Thunder star Chris Paul. Paul would be an upgrade over Eric Bledsoe and give Milwaukee an elite playmaker and leader to ease the offensive load on Antetokounmpo's shoulders.

Then there's the status of head coach Mike Budenholzer, who received more criticism than probably any other member of the organization for his failure to make the necessary adjustments on the fly against Miami.

Horst not only has to weigh Budenholzer's future but also think of any replacements who would better position the team for postseason success.

As O'Connor reported, Antetokounmpo's future isn't a fait accompli. He'll have every opportunity to put pen to paper on a long-term extension with Milwaukee.

But the organization has to operate under the belief the 2020-21 season could be the last in which the generational talent calls Milwaukee home.