Bucks eliminated, Giannis rumors swirl: Did Antetokounmpo just play his final game in Milwaukee?

Have we seen Giannis Antetokounmpo play his final game for the Milwaukee Bucks? Despite a starring performance from Giannis on Tuesday night the Bucks fell to the Indiana Pacers in a dramatic 116-117 overtime loss.

The Bucks came into Game 5 with a 3-1 series deficit, needing to win the remaining three games to progress past Round 1 of the playoffs. They managed to run up a considerable lead at points but the Pacers wound them in, eventually taking the game with a stunning play at the death from Tyrese Haliburton.

Milwaukee fall to the Pacers in Round 1 for a second successive season and this one could have major consequences for the franchise going forward. For a third straight season, Giannis Antetokounmpo has not featured beyond the first round of the playoffs and there is growing speculation that he may move on this offseason.

The Bucks are reaching the end of a cycle with an aging Damian Lillard now sidelined for up to a year. They look extremely unlikely to build another championship-winning team around Giannis and so may be better served by moving on and looking to rebuild without him in the team. It would be a crushing blow for Milwaukee fans but there would be no shortage of suitors and the potential to load up on assets and future draft picks.

The Houston Rockets have been named as a potential landing spot after overperforming expectation in 2024/25. The Rockets finished second in the Western Conference without a real superstar and Giannis would provide the cutting edge elite talent that they are currently missing. They should have the cap space to do it, too, assuming that they shift a few bench players to make way for Giannis’ $54.6 million salary.

Also in contention are the Brooklyn Nets, who would offer the added bonus of a major market for Giannis to show his talents. They also have plenty of cap space and have four first-round picks for the 2025 NBA Draft, potentially a tempting proposal if the Bucks want a refresh.

In the coming days, there will be countless conversations within the Bucks franchise about the direction of travel after another underwhelming postseason run. Decisions will need to be made, both for the team and for Giannis, to ensure that a solution is found to suit both parties.

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