December 22 is a huge day for the NBA as it begins the 2020-21 season, but the night before opening day might bring just as much drama.
Dec. 21 is the deadline for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign a supermax extension, solidifying his place in Milwaukee for another five years — and earning upwards of $233.45 million over that time.
Antetokounmpo’s contract status is top-of-mind in the league right now… just maybe not for the Greek Freak himself.
“Right now, I am not focused on that,” he said, via ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “I am just trying to focus on myself.”
Whatever happens will play a big role in the NBA market: Should he sign the supermax, teams with an eye to courting him next off-season (ahem, Raptors) will have to move on to other future plans and the hoops world’s rumour mill will quiet down accordingly.
If he does not sign on the dotted line by the 21st? Things are about to get much louder. Of course, not signing doesn’t mean Antetokounmpo’s as good as gone from Milwaukee — he’d still be extension-eligible, but just not for the supermax — but it does turn up the heat on just about everything in Milwaukee, from their place in the standings come trade deadline time to their ability to win it all and make a run this season with the game’s biggest young star. (And, if they do, does that mean he stays?)
Antetokounmpo has made it clear that winning is ultimately what’s on his mind.
“Nobody wants to win a championship more than me,” he said. “But you have to keep getting better step-by-step.”
