Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't sure if he'll sign extension with Bucks

Next month, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be eligible to sign athree-year, $173 million extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.However, in an interview with Tania Ganguli of The New YorkTimes, he revealed that he isn't planning on signing anextension in the near future.

“The real question’s not going to be this year — numbers-wise,it doesn’t make sense,” Antetokounmpo said. “But next year, nextsummer, it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, Idon’t know.

"I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know thateverybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship,everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like Ido. And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing."

In 2021, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first championshipin 50 years. However, he has made it clear that he isn't gettingcomplacent after winning a single ring.

While he'd love to join Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and DirkNowitzki as superstars who played 20-plus seasons with a singlefranchise, he isn't going to do so at the expense of contending fortitles.

"At the end of the day, being a winner, it’s over that goal,”Antetokounmpo told Ganguli. “Winning achampionship comes first. I don’t want to be 20 years on the sameteam and don’t win another championship.”

Antetokounmpo has two guaranteed years remaining on his contractwith Milwaukee; he'll earn $45,640,084 this season and $48,787,676next season. Then, in 2025-26, he has a player option worth$51,935,268.

"At the end of the day, I feel like all my teammates know andthe organization knows that I want to win a championship. As longas we’re on the same page with that and you show me and we gotogether to win a championship, I’m all for it. The moment I feellike, oh, yeah, we’re trying to rebuild..." Antetokounmpo saidbefore pausing briefly.

"There will never be hard feelings with the Milwaukee Bucks. Ibelieve that we’ve had 10 unbelievable years, and there’s no doubtI gave everything for the city of Milwaukee. Everything. Everysingle night, even when I’m hurt. I am a Milwaukee Buck. I bleedgreen. I know this. This is my team, and it’s going to forever bemy team. I don’t forget people that were there for me and allowedme to be great and to showcase who I am to the world and gave methe platform. But we have to win another one.”

Antetokounmpois coming off an impressive season in whichhe averaged a career-high 31.1 points along with 11.8 rebounds, 5.7assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 55.3% from thefield, 27.5% from three-point range and 64.5% from the free-throwline.

The 28-year-old has emerged as one of the NBA's best players,and he has an incredible resume: a championship, two NBA MVPs, aFinals MVP, seven All-Star nods, seven All-NBA selections, aDefensive Player of the Year award, five All-Defensive Teamselections and a Most Improved Player award.

Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to an Eastern-Conference-best 58wins last season. However, the Miami Heat eliminated the Bucks infive games during the first round of the 2023 NBAPlayoffs.