Jimmy Haslam Wants Giannis’s Fate Decided Before NBA Draft

Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam wants the future of his franchise player resolved before the end of June. 

Haslam, who also owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, spoke with reporters on Wednesday to introduce Taylor Jenkins, the Bucks’ new coach who previously coached the Grizzlies. When asked if there’s a deadline to decide on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the organization, he said he’d like it to be settled before June’s NBA draft. 

“I just think before the draft is a natural time,” Haslam told reporters. “Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we’ve got to have a lot of assets. That’s [GM Jon Horst’s] job to do. And if he’s here, then you build the team differently.”

The Bucks will learn their draft fate on Sunday when the league holds its lottery. They will own the lottery pick that is the least favorable of their own selection and the Pelicans’. 

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have been in a public tug of war throughout the season as the “Greek Freak” has seemingly grown wary of Milwaukee, the only team he’s played for in his 13-year career. The Bucks missed the playoffs after waiving Damian Lillard and his $120 million contract to sign Myles Turner, and the team was far from contention in a wide-open Eastern Conference. 

The two sides had a disagreement in April over whether Antetokounmpo was healthy enough to return for the Bucks’ final regular-season games after he hyperextended his knee in March, a dispute that ultimately led to an NBA investigation. The two-time MVP insisted he was healthy enough to play, while his absence potentially benefited Milwaukee’s draft positioning.

Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October. If he doesn’t, he will be a free agent after the 2026–27 season. Speaking to ESPN earlier this year, the Bucks’s current controlling partner, Wes Edens, said the 10-time All-Star will be traded if he doesn’t sign an extension this summer. 

During his press conference, Jenkins said ownership was noncommittal about Antetokounmpo’s future with the organization during the interview process. 

“We never had any problem communicating directly with Giannis—at all—and always knew where he stood,” Haslam said. “And I think he always knew where we stood. We’ve had those kind of conversations since the season was over. … So sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we’ll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he’s going to play somewhere else.”