Par Mathieu Seguin | Rédacteur sport
Potentially on the move over the summer, Giannis Antetokounmpo has yet to make up his mind, according to Shams Charania. But if he does have the choice of leaving, one insider thinks staying in the East is the best option.
There’s been a lot of talk about Giannis Antetokounmpo in recent weeks, and for good reason: the star could finally be leaving the Bucks after a number of setbacks in recent years. We know about his attachment to Wisconsin, the organization and the fans, but we also know that he is desperate to win his second career title.
From there, a departure this summer would not be a big surprise. The Bucks are far behind the competition at the moment, and Damian Lillard’s injury is a game-changer for the upcoming campaign. The front office will have its work cut out convincing him to stay, although it’s not impossible. We’ll know in the coming weeks.
Is Giannis avoiding the Spurs for a reason?
If all goes well, we’ll know more before the draft, as the event can completely flip-flop depending on the player’s decision. We’re thinking of the Spurs, for example, who may or may not use their second pick to try to lure the superstar, or take Dylan Harper as planned. But avoiding the Western Conference might be a good idea.
At least, that’s the opinion of Brian Windhorst, speaking on ESPN this Friday. He points out, along with Wolves coach Chris Finch, that this conference will be loaded for 2026 with huge competition. If he wants to make life a little easier for himself, perhaps Giannis will want to stay in the East for a better chance of winning.
Brian Windhorst : “The Spurs are a realistic prospect for Giannis Antetokounmpo with the necessary assets. But we may have to deal with what Giannis wants and it’s not against Victor Wembanyama or the Spurs, but I echo what Chris Finch said yesterday. He thinks 13 teams in the West will want to win and Giannis will see that. If he has control, the move would be to go East.”
Yes, the Western Conference is going to be a tough nut to crack for 2026, with almost every franchise in winning mode to try and make the playoffs. So having a good squad may not be enough, which could encourage the Spurs to go on the offensive. Whether or not this scares Giannis into leaving remains to be seen.