Kendrick Perkins is doubling down on a narrative that’s slowly crept into the NBA mainstream: Giannis Antetokounmpo may be done in Milwaukee.
Speaking on the Road Trippin’ podcast, Perkins urged the Bucks to “f-ing end the relationship” with their franchise cornerstone, warning that the tension between star and organization has spiraled beyond repair.
“Giannis got to grow a set. He has to grow some balls. He don’t want to be there. He’s scared to say it. The Bucks know that he don’t want to be there, but they are in denial,” Perkins said.
He called recent moves, including the re-signing of Giannis‘s brother Thanasis, more symbolic than strategic: “The last move they made was desperation.”
According to Perkins, both Giannis and Milwaukee are treading water in this standoff.
“Both sides are too afraid to end what has become an uncomfortable relationship,” he said.
“You’re not going to hit rock bottom. You’re not going to be contenders either, but … both sides are scared.” He’s even put a deadline on his belief: “I’m about 100 percent sure … we will not see Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Bucks uniform at the end of this season.”
Shifting signals and quiet maneuvering
Perkins‘s declarations are blunt and provocative, but they echo undercurrents already visible in Milwaukee and beyond.
Over the summer, the Bucks waived Damian Lillard and replaced him with Myles Turner, a move that reportedly rubbed Giannis the wrong way.
Meanwhile, Giannis publicly reaffirmed his commitment, with a caveat. “I’m locked into this team,” he said during media day, though he conceded, “in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that’s human too.”
He also noted that his priority is winning: “I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team … all the extra stuff does not matter.”
That caveat is critical. ESPN reported that in July, Bucks general manager Jon Horst made a one-day trip to Greece to meet with Giannis and his representation, presumably to reassure him and discuss the team’s direction.
Yet in a revealing twist, Giannis later claimed not to recall such a meeting, a disconnect that insiders feel signals deeper misalignment.
Milwaukee has publicly insisted no trade calls have been made. Coach Doc Rivers flatly told reporters, “Jon has never called a team about Giannis. That has never happened.”
But that doesn’t mean the quiet conversations haven’t occurred behind closed doors.
The Knicks and beyond: trade fits and consequences
If Giannis were to leave, the New York Knicks would likely top the list of suitors.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst argued that New York is in a favorable position to match a trade, mainly because both franchises are somewhat constrained on draft assets. He believes a player-based swap could appeal to both sides.
Multiple reports back that notion. During the offseason, the Bucks and Knicks reportedly held trade talks in an “exclusive negotiating window.”
The Knicks, league sources say, were among the few franchises Giannis would seriously consider joining.
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