The 28-year-old Greek star, who led the Pax to its first title in 50 years in 2021, will be eligible to sign an extension to his current contract next month, but he said in an interview with The New York Times that he wanted a greater commitment from the club to maintain a competitive squad before agreeing to a deal. Such a bargain.
“Next summer, it will make more sense for both parties. Until then, I don’t know,” Antitokounmpo said.
And he continued, “I will not be the best version of myself if I do not know that everyone is on the same wavelength, everyone strives for the championship, everyone will sacrifice his time away from his family as I do,” stressing, “And if I do not feel that, I will not sign.”
Bucks realizes the importance of retaining the best player in the regular league twice (2019 and 2020) and the best player in the finals (2021), in order to preserve his position among the adults, knowing that he finished last season in first place in the eastern region and achieved the best record in his history in the league with 58 wins against 24 defeats, but he suffered an unexpected defeat against the Miami Heat in the first round of the “Playoffs”.
The Bucks also finished the regular league for the 2021-2022 season with a record of 51 wins against 31 defeats, but they fell to Boston in the second round of the playoffs.
“Winning the championship comes first. I don’t want to stay in this team for 20 years and not win another championship,” Antitokounmpo added. We’ll go together to win the championship, I totally support that.”
And in steps indicating the seriousness of Pax’s handling of the issue of his Greek star, he sacked his coach, Mike Budenholzer, after leaving the “Playoff”, and appointed in his place assistant coach Adrian Griffin, Toronto. He also re-signed players Brook Lopez and Chris Middleton after being released from their contracts to stay with him in hopes of impressing Antetokounmpo on his next long-term deal.
© 2023 AFP
2023-08-25 18:50:09
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