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Eric WoodyardESPN
It was a normal Tuesday for Giannis Antetokounmpo, aside from a big business deal. He ate with family, visited the BuyBuy Baby store in Wisconsin to buy toys and clothes for his infant son Liam, then went home and fell asleep, only to wake up the next day for exercise.
This, of course, was after he signed his $ 228 million supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, the largest contract in NBA history.
Looking back on his goals for the next five years, Antetokounmpo said with a smile, “Having kids and having a championship. That’s all I want.
“I just want to have kids, be able to educate my kids and win a championship,” he continued speaking to reporters on Wednesday. ‘After that my life is complete. I can retire in five years. No, I’m kidding. ‘
While the Bucks lagged the NBA Finals in 2019-2020, Antetokounmpo became the third youngest player to win back-to-back MVP awards, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James, and the third player to win MVP and Defensive Player won. of the year in the same season, along with Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan.
Antetokounmpo’s agent, Alex Saratsis, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the extension will be for the full five years, include $ 228 million supermax and an opt-out after the fourth year. His maximum contract would have been four years and $ 145 million had he moved elsewhere, but ultimately Milwaukee is where Antetokounmpo said he wants to stay.
“The way this city has supported me and my family has been great since day one, since the day I ran the gym at the Cousins Center and Bradley Center, too. It was great. I was 18, I ‘m 26 now. I only know Milwaukee, “said Antetokounmpo.” When I got here, I only knew this is a city that loves basketball, it’s a city that … we have more things to do now, but then I came here, we had a lot to do so I could just focus on basketball and it’s a place where I want to be. It is a place where I want to raise my children and I feel good here. I feel like my family feels good here so I’m fine. “
Khris Middleton was the first teammate to call and congratulated Antetokounmpo on the deal. Antetokounmpo has also consulted with his mother throughout the process before making a deal that, if managed properly, will create generational power.
‘I talked to my mom, asked her if she wanted to move? She said, ‘No. So I said, “Okay, cool. I’ll just sign the deal.” But no, this is where I want to be, ‘said Antetokounmpo. ‘This is my home. This is my city. I want to represent Milwaukee, and I want to do this for the next five years. ”
According to William Hill’s Caesars Sportsbook, Antetokounmpo (+450) currently has the second smallest chance of winning the 2020-21 MVP award, behind only Dallas’ Luka Doncic (+400).
However, he made his goals crystal clear: a championship.
“I think we can get better. I believe we can get better. We’ve gotten better,” said Antetokounmpo. “We have a great team. We have a great culture. I know I’m working on that goal. The front office is working on that goal, so I’m good. I’m happy. I think everyone is on the same page.
“In the end you have to look at the past; we have gotten better every year. In my opinion the last two years were realistic given the two years that we competed for a championship. The years before that there were no championship years, so it won’t be easy. to become. “
As Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer drove out of the parking garage on Tuesday, he received a text from his sons, Will and John, informing him of Antetokounmpo’s long-term commitment, causing immediate excitement.
“I think I technically came out,” Budenholzer said on Wednesday, describing the moment. “It was a moment not to run through the red light and kill myself … So, in the middle of the excitement, I was able to honor the red light and stop and shout and shout a little bit with my boys. “