Social media buzzing after Giannis Antetokounmpo announces 5-year extension with Milwaukee Bucks

“You took a chance on us eight years ago and now putting my signature on a contract like this is unreal — but it’s all because of hard work," the two-time MVP said in a statement. 

In 2020 alone, two of the greatest athletes in their respective sports — Giannis Antetokounmpo and Christian Yelich — joined Aaron Rodgers in signing long-term contract extensions that assure they will spend the prime years of their careers in Wisconsin.

"We've gotten better every single year and I believe we can get better," Giannis Antetokounmpo said. "We have a great culture and everybody is on the same page."

“The competition is really good in the East,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Our guys understand that and that’s the job of the coaching staff to figure out where we can improve.” 

“It’s taking our whole group a little bit of time to figure each other out,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think their conditioning is not bad, think it’s just the familiarity, the touch."

As they prepare to open the 2020-21 regular season Wednesday night in Boston, the Bucks know the window for winning an NBA championship is open.

The NBA doesn't have a formal threshold for canceling games or suspending the season, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said on a conference call Monday, although returning to a bubble situation could be a possibility.

Milwaukee went 12 of 25 from the line but still won its fourth straight game, 112-109 over Dallas on Friday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has made just 57.5% of his free throws this season after shooting a career-low 61.8% from the line last season. 

Kevin Durant hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 36 seconds left as Brooklyn prevailed over Milwaukee 125-123.

James Harden joining Kevin Durant makes Brooklyn a formidable foe and the betting favorite in the NBA Eastern Conference.

After winning seven of eight games, the Bucks fell to new-look Brooklyn and defending NBA champion Los Angeles this week.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points and 14 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-115 on Sunday night at Fiserv Forum to snap a two-game losing streak.

The Milwaukee Bucks head back on the road Wednesday night for a three-game trip against the Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished one assist shy of a triple-double in the Bucks' 115-108 road victory over the Raptors.

This year, as coach Mike Budenholzer tweaked his philosophies on both ends of the floor, Brook Lopez's production has been hindered by the adjustment process.

Down 23 points at halftime, Milwaukee rallied but fell short in a 131-126 loss to New Orleans.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finishes with 34 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists, but it wasn't enough as Charlotte beat Milwaukee 126-114.

Milwaukee ranks 27th in opponents' 3-point attempts (38.4) and 28th in opponents' 3-pointers made (15.2).

Milwaukee hit 50% of its shots from 3-point range and 55% overall to end a two-game skid by trouncing Portland 134-106 on Monday night.

Milwaukee now allows indoor gatherings up to 250 people, provided they remain seated and observe social-distancing measures, but the Bucks are hoping the city will allow up to 25% of capacity at the 17,341-seat arena.

Reigning two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo shot 7 of 8 from both the floor and the line and had 21 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in the Bucks' 130-110 rout of the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Coming off blowout victories over a pair of quality opponents, the Milwaukee Bucks will try to keep their momentum going as they embark on a season-long six-game trip.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points, Jrue Holiday added 17 and Milwaukee beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 123-105 in the opener of a six-game road trip that began with the Bucks stuck at home due to travel delays.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Jrue Holiday scored 20 and Milwaukee beat Cleveland for the second time in two days, 124-99 on Saturday night.

Milwaukee has dropped 13 of its past 17 games against the Nuggets, who host the Bucks on Monday night.

Jrue Holiday sits out due to safety protocols as Bucks win fifth consecutive game. 

Until Monday's victory at Denver, no Milwaukee player or staff member had tested positive and only one of their games — a Jan. 22 contest against the Wizards — had been postponed.

The Bucks had a chance to win on the final possession, but Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a 20-foot jumper at the buzzer.

Not only are the Bucks going up against the hottest team in the NBA — the Jazz have won 16 of 17 and have the league's best record at 20-5 — they’re doing so without their best defender and in a venue that has been historically frustrating.

Rudy Gobert had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Jazz beat the Milwaukee Bucks 129-115 for their sixth straight victory and 17th in 18 games,

Milwaukee loses its third consecutive game with guard Jrue Holiday sidelined by health and safety protocols.

The city of Milwaukee granted the team permission to allow up to 10% capacity at the 17,000-seat Fiserv Forum, starting with Tuesday's game against the Raptors.

The Milwaukee Bucks knew when they overhauled their roster that they might pay a short-term price for their attempt to improve their postseason fortunes.

The Milwaukee Bucks had fans in the stands and a double-double from Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the Toronto Raptors, who beat the Bucks 124-113.

Tuesday's loss to Toronto gave Milwaukee its first four-game losing streak in more than two years.

Norman Powell matched a season high with 29 points and the Raptors beat Milwaukee 110-96 on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum to hand the Bucks their fifth consecutive loss.

For absolutely no justifiable reason other than boosting its bottom line, the NBA is going through with dubious plans to stage a made-for-TV All-Star Game in Atlanta on March 7.

LeBron James and Kevin Durant were revealed Thursday as the leading fan votegetters in the Western and Eastern Conferences for the All-Star Game, meaning they'll be captains for the matchup in Atlanta on March 7.

Milwaukee used an 18-0 run to seize control as the Bucks beat Oklahoma City 98-85 on Friday night at Fiserv Forum to end their longest losing streak in four years. 

He had 11 points and five assists in 32 minutes in Friday's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder..

Milwaukee beat Sacramento for its second straight win after ending a five-game losing streak with a victory over Oklahoma City on Friday night.

Bucks rookie guard Sam Merrill focused on defense during five games in the G League.

Giannis Antetokoumpo had 37 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks won 139-112 on Tuesday at Fiserv Forum to spoil Chris Finch’s coaching debut with Minnesota.

The Milwaukee Bucks will open the second half of their season at home against the New York Knicks on Thursday, March 11.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points, Khris Middleton added 31 and the Milwaukee Bucks outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans 129-125 on Thursday night.

Milwaukee wins for the first time this season when trailing after three quarters.

Nikola Jokic had 37 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his 50th career triple-double and the Nuggets trounced the Bucks 128-97 on Tuesday at Fiserv Forum. 

Jrue Holiday’s 11-foot baseline jumper with two seconds remaining gave the Bucks a 112-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night in a game where the teams exchanged leads five times in the final minute.

LeBron James used the No. 1 overall pick on Giannis Antetokounmpo in the draft for Sunday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.

Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo hit all 16 of his attempts from the field and scored 35 points as Team LeBron defeats Team Durant.

Lebron James has had to hold it down for the Lakers while Anthony Davis is recovering from a right calf strain, and he's been impressive doing it at 36 and in his 18th season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 29 minutes in the 134-101 victory

USA Basketball is a step closer to choosing the team that will play in this summer’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, releasing the names Thursday of 57 players who are part of the pool to fill the squad.

As the league reached the one-year anniversary of the shutdown that lasted 134 days between competitions, March 11 has become a bright line separating the way the NBA used to operate and the version altered by the pandemic.

The All-Star MVP has 33 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the 125-119 road victory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his third consecutive triple-double to lead Milwaukee past Washington 133-122 Monday night for their fourth consecutive victory.

Milwaukee (26-14) pulls within 1½ games of Philadelphia (28-13) with the 109-105 victory.

"It feels good just to have my battery recharged," said P.J. Tucker, who gives the Bucks a solid defender and quality 3-point shooter as they bid for their first NBA title since 1971.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and a season-high 15 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the San Antonio Spurs 120-113 on Saturday night.

Jrue Holiday had 28 points and 14 assists to help the Bucks breeze past the Indiana Pacers 140-113 on Monday night for their seventh consecutive victory.

Milwaukee blew most of a 25-point lead before holding on for a 121-119 victory over the Celtics on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum as Boston’s Daniel Theis missed a shot at the buzzer.

Jayson Tatum scored 34 points, Marcus Smart had 23 and the Celtics beat Milwaukee 122-114 on Friday night to snap the Bucks’ eight-game winning streak.

Alec Burks and RJ Barrett each scored 21 points to help the New York Knicks to a 102-96 victory Saturday night over the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo and three other injured starters at Fiserv Forum.

Two-time All-Star center Andre Drummond is joining the Los Angeles Lakers for the playoff push.

Jeff Teague, a 32-year-old former all-star, elected to come to Milwaukee to back up Jrue Holiday and provide a veteran presence off the bench.

Andre Drummond left his Lakers debut with a bruised right toe, and Jrue Holiday scored 28 points in the Milwaukee Bucks' 112-97 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 47 points and 12 rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped the Portland Trail Blazers' four-game winning streak with a 127-109 victory Friday night.

Jrue Holiday scored a season-high 33 points to go with 11 assists and seven rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Sacramento Kings 129-128 on Saturday night.

Jrue Holiday pretty much knew he wanted to stay in Milwaukee for years to come once he spoke to team officials shortly after they paid a steep price to acquire him. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out his second straight game with a sore left knee after missing a 129-128 win at Sacramento on Saturday. 

Donte DiVincenzo scores 22 points and Bobby Portis adds 20 points and 14 rebounds for Milwaukee, which drops to 1-2 with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (sore left knee), Jrue Holiday (bruised left knee), Donte DiVincenzo (bruised right hip), Brook Lopez (sore back) and Khris Middleton (sore right knee) didn't play in the 127-119 loss to visiting Charlotte.

Khris Middleton scored 21 points and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Orlando Magic 124-87 on Sunday night to end a three-game losing streak.

Khris Middleton had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in three quarters, as the Milwaukee Bucks breezed to a 130-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

After missing six games with an ailing knee, Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 15 points in Milwaukee's 120-109 victory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finishes with 28 points and 11 rebounds in the loss for Milwaukee.

Phoenix's Devin Booker makes the decisive free throw to hand Milwaukee its fifth consecutive home defeat 128-127.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 27 points, Khris Middleton 24 and Bobby Portis 23 off the bench in the 124-117 victory at Fiserv Forum.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 24 points to move into second place on the Bucks' franchise list.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has 31 points with 14 rebounds, but Milwaukee couldn't complete a season sweep of Atlanta.

Milwaukee avoids being swept by Charlotte in the three-game season series.

Kevin Porter Jr. scores a career-high 50 points as Houston ended a five-game skid with a 143-136 victory.

Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton each score 22 points in the 108-98 victory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned after missing one game with a sprained ankle and scored 49 points to lead the Bucks over the Nets and Kevin Durant 117-114.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and the Bucks used a fourth-quarter rally to beat the Brooklyn Nets for the second time in three days, winning 124-118 on Tuesday night. 

Jrue Holiday scored 29 points to help the Bucks win their fourth straight 135-134 while withstanding a 42-point performance from Bradley Beal and a triple-double from Russell Westbrook.

Milwaukee avenges an April 29 loss and is now tied for second place with Brooklyn.

San Antonio sets a season high for points and a team best with 87 points in the first half.

He scores 27 points as Milwaukee keeps pace in the Eastern Conference.

Antetokounmpo shoots 14 of 18 from the field and 11 of 16 from the line in the 142-133 road victory.

Seven players score in double figures for Milwaukee in a 122-108 victory at Fiserv Forum.

Jordan Nwora finishes with 34 points and 14 rebounds for Milwaukee, which will play the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.

Giannis' older brother suffered an avulsion fracture to his right patella tendon in the regular-season finale.

Point guard Jrue Holiday is playing for a legitimate title contender for the first time in his NBA career.

After being 13th in the Eastern Conference at one point, the Heat rebounded to a 40-32 finish and the conference's No. 6 seed.

The Heat hope that Jimmy Butler comes through again as Miami tries to beat Milwaukee in another run to the NBA Finals.

Miami beat top-seeded Milwaukee 4-1 and went on to win the Eastern Conference title last year before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Miami is seeded sixth and Milwaukee third in the East heading into the rematch that begins Saturday.

Middleton breaks a tie with a jumper with 0.5 seconds left in overtime during the 109-107 victory.

The Miami star finished Saturday's Game 1 overtime loss with 17 points on 4-for-22 shooting from the field and 2-for-9 shooting from 3-point range.

The 11,000-athlete lineup for the Olympics will not be complete until four men's basketball qualifying tournaments — in Canada, Croatia, Lithuania and Serbia, each with one ticket to Tokyo — are played from June 29-July 4.

Milwaukee shot 22 of 53 from 3-point range — including 15 of 29 in the first half — and never trailed Miami while leading by as many as 36 points.

Miami's Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayohe combined for an average of just 26 points per game in the first two playoff games at Fiserv Forum.

Khris Middleton scored 22 points, Jrue Holiday added 19 points and 12 assists and the Bucks took a 3-0 lead in their East first-round series with a 113-84 victory in Miami on Thursday night.

Starting guard Donte DiVincenzo suffered a torn ligament in his left ankle during Thursday's 113-84 victory in Game 3, and won't play again in the playoffs.

Four Bucks scored 20 or more points, led by Brook Lopez with 25 as Milwaukee routed Miami 120-103 to sweep the series.

The master plan was for Heat President Pat Riley to turn to Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. Only Giannis re-signed with Milwaukee last December.

The Bucks went 2-1 against the Nets during the regular season, but Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden didn't play together for Brooklyn during any of those games.

Milwaukee shot just 6-for-30 from 3-point range as the Nets beat the Bucks 115-107 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Brooklyn star James Harden has been ruled out for Monday night's game due to hamstring tightness.

Brooklyn shot 52% from the field and went 21-for-42 from 3-point range in routing Milwaukee 125-86 on Monday night.

Milwaukee's high-scoring offense has yet to click against Brooklyn's stout defensive play.

Khris Middleton scored 35 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 33 for Milwaukee, which lost a 21-point cushion but rallied to win 86-83.

The security guard went on the court during the confrontation and put his hands on Milwaukee's P.J. Tucker.

Brooklyn loses Kyrie Irving to a sprained ankle in its 107-96 loss.

Kyrie Irving (ankle) won't play for Brooklyn but James Harden (hamstring) was upgraded to questionable on Tuesday as the best-of-seven series returns to Brooklyn tied 2-2.

Kevin Durant had 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, as Milwaukee blew a 59-43 halftime leas to lose 114-108 at Brooklyn in Game 5.

James Harden played 46 minutes Tuesday night in a the Nets' Game 5 win over the Bucks in his first action since leaving with a hamstring injury less than a minute into the series opener.

The Nets own a 3-2 series lead thanks largely to Kevin Durant, who delivered a performance for the ages as Brooklyn rallied from a 17-point deficit to win  114-108 on Tuesday at Brooklyn.

Khris Middleton scored a career playoff-high 38 points and added 10 rebounds to lead Milwaukee's 104-89 rout of Brooklyn on Thursday night to force a decisive seventh game.

The two powerhouses play in Saturday's Game 7 with a berth in the Eastern Conference finals on the line.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 40 points and 13 rebounds, and Khris Middleton made the tiebreaking shot with 40 seconds left in the first overtime Game 7 in the NBA in 15 years.

Milwaukee dispatched Brooklyn to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in three years. The Bucks will next face the Atlanta Hawks.

Atlanta will open its first East finals since 2015 against the Bucks on Wednesday night in Milwaukee.

After firing coach Lloyd Pierce and replacing him with Nate McMillan as interim coach, the Hawks have gone 35-15, including beating the Knicks and 76ers in the playoffs.

Milwaukee hasn't reached the NBA Finals since 1974; Atlanta, playing in St. Louis before moving, was most recently a finalist in 1961.

After beating the Knicks and 76ers, the Hawks are set to face the Bucks, yet another great defensive team, and two-time MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Atlanta improved to 6-2 in road playoff games this year as it handed Milwaukee its first home loss of the postseason.

Without being weighed down by expectations or memories of previous playoff disappointments, Atlanta is playing its best when games are on the line.

Milwaukee led by at least 30 points throughout the second half and blew out the Atlanta Hawks 125-91 in Game 2.

Giannis Antetokounmpo made three of four free throws and never faced any issues about violations of the 10-second rule in the Bucks' 125-91 rout of the Hawks that evened the series at 1-1.

Thanks to Friday night’s resounding 125-91 win in Game 2, the Bucks take momentum into Sunday night’s Game 3 in Atlanta.

Khris Middleton scored 20 of his playoff career high-tying 38 points in the fourth quarter, leading Milwaukee to a 113-102 victory over Atlanta for a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo playing in the NBA playoffs, Greece faces Canada on Tuesday and China on Thursday in the qualifier, and it needs to win at least one of those games to move into the semifinals.

“Doesn’t matter who is the first guy,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “I have the whole game to be the guy. I don’t care about being the guy in the fourth quarter.”

A small rally by the Bucks to start the second half fizzled when Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a potentially season-altering injury, and an inspired Hawks team routed Milwaukee 110-88 to even the series 2-2.

The Bucks suddenly are facing the daunting challenge of possibly having to move forward in their Eastern Conference finals without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubtful for Thursday’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals after an MRI showed he hyperextended his left knee in the 110-88 Game 4 loss to the Hawks.

Brook Lopez's 33 points lead the way in a 123-112 victory as Milwaukee moves within one win of reaching the Finals.

Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is listed as doubtful to play in Saturday's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final, while Atlanta's Trae Young (foot) is questionable.

The silver lining to all these injuries is a bit of a postseason chaos, with unexpected characters and fresh storylines born out of all these sprains and strains.

Khris Middleton scored 32 points, including a run of 16 straight in a decisive third quarter that carried the Bucks to a 118-107 victory over the Hawks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night.

The Bucks face a quick turnaround before Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Phoenix on Tuesday night, and it's not known if that leaves Giannis Antetokounmpo sufficient time to recover from his hyperextended left knee.

Phoenix won a pair of 1-point games over Milwaukee during the regular season, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo averaging 40 points on 60% shooting.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns came into the league together in 1968 and between them have managed to win one championship. 

The Bucks' Khris Middleton, and the Nets' Chris Paul and Devin Booker are among the best in the league at shooting mid-range jumpers.

The Bucks showed in the Eastern Conference finals that they have enough toughness to thrive without Giannis Antetokounmpo if necessary. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 17 rebounds after missing two games with a hyperextended left knee, but Chris Paul had 32 points and nine assists as Phoenix routed Milwaukee 118-105 on Tuesday night in Game 1..

Giannis Antetokounmpo's presence didn't lead to a Bucks win on Tuesday night, but did serve notice that he will likely have a major impact on the NBA Finals.

Phoenix's top three players shined in the series opener while surprise starter Giannis Antetokounmpo was not at his best and Jrue Holiday struggled for the Bucks.

“We have different options,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Frank gives us quality size and playmaking ability. He’s smart." 

This Devin Booker shares a name with the 24-year-old Suns guard. And they even share a profession, as the other Booker made his living grabbing rebounds and fighting for space in the paint in a number of European leagues.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 42 points and 12 rebounds in Thursday's 118-108 loss to Phoenix.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 42 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks but couldn't push the Bucks past the Suns, who took a 2-0 series lead with their 118-108 win.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the Bucks “embody not only the team spirit that you see with all the players, but they embody the community spirit of wanting to be a part of the community. It has been true since the day they got here.”

Milwaukee has overcome an 0-2 deficit previously in this year's playoffs but hasn't gone up against anyone like Phoenix guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker.

Phoenix already is playing without reserve forward Dario Saric, who tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter of Phoenix's 118-105 Game 1 triumph on Tuesday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 41 points and Milwaukee pulled within 2-1 in the series with a 120-100 win over Phoenix at Fiserv Forum.

"We knew it was coming," Suns coach Monty Williams said. "We did not respond to it well."

With 42 and 41 points in his last two games, Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Jerry West and Rick Barry as players to have two straight 40-point outings in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan leads with four straight.

Bobby Portis provided a big spark off the bench, scoring 11 points in 18 minutes in Milwaukee’s 120-100 Game 3 NBA Finals victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. That came after he played just five minutes in a Game 2 loss.

Devin Booker shot just 3 of 14 Sunday night and managed just 10 points as the Suns lost 120-100 to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Physical play from Phoenix didn't work against Bucks' superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 3.

Khris Middleton scored 10 straight points for Milwaukee down the stretch as the Bucks rallied from nine down to beat the Suns 109-103 on Wednesday night to tie the series 2-2.

The Bucks overcame a 2-0 deficit in the second round against Brooklyn and now are trying to become the fifth club to do it in the NBA Finals. That last happened five years ago when Cleveland rallied past Golden State.

The little-used older brother of star Giannis Antetokounmpo has averaged just 3.5 minutes per game in the postseason.

They can win their first title since 1971 in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

“It is funny, you want to treat it the same as any other game, but at the same time, it is what it is. It’s a close-out game of the finals,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said.

Giannis Antetokounmpo ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever with 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns 105-98 on Tuesday night to win an entertaining series 4-2

The Greek Freak delivered perhaps the best performance of his career at the best possible moment and can now add an NBA Finals MVP award to his two regular-season MVP trophies.

After the game ended, Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: "Incredible Giannis! Greeks everywhere celebrate!"

Loyalty matters to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who grew up dealing with poverty in Greece and was drafted by the Bucks when he was just 18.

"The city has loved me and my family and I want to give that love back now," Giannis Antetokounmpo said Friday. "Milwaukee helped me, invested in me and this is an opportunity to invest back in the city."

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer agreed to a three-year contract extension Tuesday night, tying himself to Milwaukee through the 2024-25 season. 

NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo was in Greece for a meeting with the country's prime minister Thursday and a special ceremony to bestow Greek citizenship on his mother Veronica and younger brother Alex.

Even with holes to fill in his game, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is already among the best players in the NBA. 

The coronavirus-related numbers around the league are skyrocketing, and there’s certainly a strong chance that some teams playing on Christmas this year will be without key players.

Kevin Durant reiterated Friday that he won't lobby teammate Kyrie Irving to get vaccinated against the coronavirus so he could be eligible to play in all the Brooklyn Nets' games.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen was suspended by the NBA for one game on Sunday for his hard foul on Alex Caruso that resulted in a broken right wrist for the Chicago Bulls guard.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has been named an All-Star starter for the sixth straight season.

"I'd rather miss a bunch of shots and keep playing, keep coming and keep being aggressive ... than go into passive mode," Giannis Antetokounmpo said after the Celtics won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals 109-81 on Sunday to end Milwaukee's hopes of back-to-back titles.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only player to receive all 100 possible first-team votes and finished with 500 points in his fourth consecutive first-team selection.

He had been on Mike Budenholzer's staff in Milwaukee since 2018.

“He had a discomfort a little bit on his knee, nothing major," Greece coach Dimitris Itoudis said after Monday’s game. "We did not want to risk anything so we decided not to dress him up today.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo's point total was the most in a EuroBasket game since Dirk Nowitzki had 43 for Germany in 2001.

Giannis Antetokounmpo argued with an arena worker and pushed a ladder away from a basket, as he tried to shoot practice free throws after the Bucks' loss on Friday night.

For the second time in three games, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a free throw taken away because he didn’t shoot it within the allotted 10 seconds — an old problem returning.

The league adjusted the statistics from the Milwaukee-Washington game Sunday night and erased Giannis Antetokounmpo's final rebound, the one that would have given him a triple-double.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was dribbling out the the clock in the Bucks’ 133-124 victory over the Kings when he was fouled and pushed by Lyles, leading to the altercation with Lopez.

Giannis Antetokounmpo praised the "amazing" moves the Milwaukee Bucks have made to improve the team, but the two-time reigning MVP stopped short Wednesday of saying he would sign a supermax contract extension offer.

Dallas made 22 3-pointers in beating Milwaukee for the second straight time in the preseason.

The Milwaukee Bucks concluded their first team practice Sunday by singing “Happy Birthday” to back-to-back reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Jrue Holiday's ability to score should prevent defenses from ignoring him to provide help covering Khris Middleton or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Headlining the list of nine Bucks newcomers is point guard Jrue Holiday, one of the best defenders in the game and also an efficient scorer and effective playmaker during his 11-year career.

The 2020-21 Nets feature two (rehabbed) superstars, a rookie head coach, a risk-taking general manager, and a hodge-podge roster of ill-fitting, yet talented players.

After signing with the Lakers, Wesley Matthews apologized for becoming "emotional" while talking about how the late Kobe Bryant helped him through his Achilles tendon injury.

Team officials say they will work with state and local health officials as well as the NBA to evaluate a potential time that fans can return to games in some capacity later in the season.

The Milwaukee Bucks got some free agent help for their bench Sunday, signing shooting guard Bryn Forbes and small forward Torrey Craig.

After having the NBA’s best regular-season record and the league’s MVP each of the last two years without even making the NBA finals, the Bucks are hoping a roster overhaul helps deliver them their first title since 1971.