Antetokounmpo "runs away" countdown: When the myth of loyalty encounters a real dilemma, the Bucks Alphabet era may usher in the final chapter?

1. Fatal turning point: From "one person, one city" to "open centrifugation"

On May 12, 2025, a revelation from ESPN reporter Shams shocked the league like thunder - Antetokounmpo was open to leaving the Bucks for the first time in his career. This superstar, who had emotionally declared that "my blood is green" when renewing his contract in 2023, finally lost patience with Milwaukee's future after three consecutive years of first-round elimination. When he refused to answer the question "Can you win another championship" after the G5 match with the Pacers, the answer was already written in the number "15" on the whiteboard - that is the closest record for the Bucks to win the championship since the 2021 championship, but it has become an eternal footnote for the team to stagnate.

(I) The chain reaction of injury and lineup collapse

The serious injury of Lillard's Achilles tendon rupture this season completely exposed the fragility of the Bucks lineup. However, the management gave up this theoretical championship combination too early. When Antetokounmpo carried the team forward with his dominant performance of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists per game, he was surrounded by a group of character players who fought on defense in the regular season and collapsed due to physical overdraft in the playoffs. What’s even more fatal is that the Bucks only have one first-round pick left in the next five years, completely losing the possibility of rebuilding through the draft.

(II) The salary dilemma and management misconduct

Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Kuzma have a total salary of US$130 million, accounting for 79.3% of the team's total salary, which directly leads the Bucks to an embarrassing situation of "no low to high or high". To avoid touching the second luxury tax line, management could only trade Middleton for Kuzma to save $7 million in salary, but sacrificed lineup stability. This "demolition of the east wall and repairing the west wall" operation made the Bucks unable to retain the core framework and attract high-quality role players, and was eventually overturned by the Pacers' youth storm in the playoffs. No team will take over Lillard's contract, his annual salary next season will reach $54.1 million, and there will be a $58.4 million player option in the 2026-27 season. No team will be interested in Kuzma, and the Wizards of the long-term bad team seemed to have worn out his sharpness.

2. Historical Mirror: The destruction of loyal narratives and the inevitability of superstar flow

(I) The end of the era of "one person, one city"

From Kobe, Duncan to Nowitzki, "one person, one city" was once the most moving myth in the NBA. But as modern players become more sensitive to the win window, this model is being subverted. After the Bucks won the championship in 2021, Antetokounmpo could follow Nowitzki and become a small town hero, but the management's short-sighted operation gradually made his peak period consumed. Referring to the Mavericks maintaining competitiveness through precise signings after Dirk Nowitzki won the championship in 2011, while the Bucks continuously overdraw their future after 2021. This contrast highlights the management gap.

(II) The underlying logic of superstar flow

When Jokic created a new dynasty in Denver and Tatum formed a super team in Boston, Antetokounmpo was trapped in the salary quagmire of Milwaukee. In NBA history, 85% of superstars will choose to leave the team to seek a chance to win the championship at the end of their careers, such as James, Durant, Leonard, etc. Antetokounmpo's open attitude is essentially a rational response to the "window of the championship" - he is 30 years old, and his remaining peak period may only be 3-5 years, and the Bucks obviously cannot provide the hardware conditions for the championship during this period.

3. Potential next player: The double game between championship puzzle and commercial value

(I) Rockets: The double temptation of capita space and draft picks

The Houston Rockets have the league's richest draft assets - 9 future first-round picks, including this year's ten picks, which are enough to meet the Bucks' reconstruction needs. If the Rockets send potential new stars such as Jaylen Green, Shin Kyung, Jabbarri Smith Jr., and then paired with 5 first-round picks, it is entirely possible to impress the Bucks management.

(II) Spurs: The ultimate temptation of the Vinbanyama era

The San Antonio Spurs are in the rise of the Vinbanyama era, and their salary flexibility and draft pick reserves are the top in the league. The Spurs not only have a salary space of $33 million, but also holds two lottery draws with the 2025 Tanhua lottery, the 14th pick and two first round draws in the future, and are fully capable of providing high-quality bargaining chips for the Bucks. If Antetokounmpo joins, he will form the most dominant insider combination in NBA history with Vampan Yama - one is the Greek monster flying in the sky, and the other is the French Spider-Man with offense and defense. This combination not only can instantly hit the championship, but it can also bring the Spurs a window of at least 5 years to the championship.

(III) Lakers and the Knicks: The ultimate battlefield of commercial value

Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks represent the business peak of the NBA. The Lakers can trade Rivers and Hachimura to free up salary space to trade with the Bucks in three-party trades; the Knicks are currently only one step away from the Eastern Conference Finals and have the hope of reaching the finals. If they can reach the finals, the Knicks may not be willing to disrupt the current team's chemistry, and the future first round is limited. According to Forbes, if Antetokounmpo joins the Lakers, his personal annual income (salary + endorsement) is expected to exceed $120 million, surpassing Curry to become the richest man in the NBA. This temptation of commercial value is very attractive to Antetokounmpo, who is about to enter the end of his career.

4. The Bucks' Dilemma: A Hard Choice on the Road to Reconstruction

(I) Salary Shackles and Draft Black Hole

The Bucks' salary structure has fallen into a dead cycle: Lillard's remaining 2 years of $113 million contract almost locked down the team's future operation space.. If Antetokounmpo leaves the team, the Bucks will face two choices: one is to completely rebuild and exchange Antetokounmpo for a large number of draft picks and young players; the other is to continue to "compete to the championship" and use remaining assets to piece together the lineup. But either option, the Bucks will lose competitiveness in the next five years – their first round picks will not be traded until 2031 at the earliest, and Milwaukee’s small market attributes are difficult to attract free agents.

(II) Management's Redemption Opportunity

Bucks General Manager Jon Horst must make key decisions in the next month. If he chooses to trade Antetokounmpo, he needs to copy the success of the 2019 Thick Brows trade, bringing back at least 3 first-round picks and 2 potential new stars for the Bucks. If he chooses to renew his contract, he must convince Antetokounmpo that the management can build a championship lineup after Lillard returns - this requires miraculous trading operations, such as using Lillard's expiration contract for high-quality chips. But no matter which option, the Bucks will face a long period of reconstruction, and Antetokounmpo's departure may become the most painful moment in the city's sports history.

Conclusion: The ultimate game between loyalty and ambition

Antetokounmpo's "open attitude" is not only a turning point in his personal career, but also a microcosm of the collision between business logic and competitive logic in the NBA. When the Bucks' salary black hole and management's short-sighted operation exhausted his patience, leaving might become the only rational choice. Whether it is joining the Rockets' reconstruction cause or joining hands with Wenban Yama to attack the dynasty, Antetokounmpo's decision will reshape the alliance structure. And Milwaukees may need to accept that in this era of business supremacy, the fairy tale of "one person, one city" can never stand the ambition to win the championship. When Antetokounmpo's last game in Milwaukee ends, the back, which was once regarded as the city totem by fans, will eventually become a footnote to a legend.