Bucks owner Haslam wants Giannis’ future settled before the NBA draft

Milwaukee — The Milwaukee Bucks Co-owner Jimmy Haslam said he would like to have Giannis AntetokounmpoIts future is set ahead of next month’s NBA draft.

Haslam spoke with general manager Jon Horst at a news conference Wednesday Meet Taylor Jenkins As coach of Bucks. Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 13-year career with the Bucks, but it’s possible he could leave Milwaukee after a disappointing, injury-riddled season.

“Before the draft I think is the normal time,” Haslam said. “Because if Giannis plays somewhere else, we’re going to have a lot of assets. That’s John’s job. And if he’s here, you build the team differently.”

Antetokounmpo has repeatedly said he prefers to play in Milwaukee but wants to play for a franchise committed to competing for championships. The Bucks have snapped a string of nine straight playoff appearances this season, going 32-50.

The Bucks could offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October. If Antetokounmpo doesn’t sign, he could become a free agent after next season.

Haslam, also a co-owner of the NFL Cleveland BrownsI want to settle the matter long before October He spoke Wednesday as if the decision rested with the Bucks as much as it did with Antetokounmpo.

“We never had a problem communicating directly with Giannis — at all — and always knew where he stood,” Haslam said. “And I think he’s always known where we stand. We’ve had those conversations since the season ended. … So in the next six or seven weeks we’ll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or whether he’s going to play somewhere else. And John and Taylor, (co-owner) Wes (co-owner) Wes (Edens) and myself will figure it out and we’ll figure out what Grant’s call is.

The Bucks will pick the lottery this year at their own venue or inside New Orleans‘ spot, which is less favourable. Draft lottery on Sunday.

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first title in a half-century in 2021 and owns virtually all of the franchise’s major career records. He won the first of his two consecutive MVP awards in 2018-19, while Jenkins was an assistant on Mike Budenholzer’s staff.

Horst noted that the Bucks sought input from Antetokounmpo and other players during previous coaching searches but did not do so this time. Jenkins said he has been in contact with Antetokounmpo since he took the job.

“He’s brought tremendous excitement to me and my family,” Jenkins said. “Obviously, even just being here for one season, he and I developed a really good relationship and maintained that respect, even from a distance.”

Jenkins, 41, was the coach Grizzlies from 2019 to 2025 and went 250–214, leading them to three straight playoff appearances from 2021 to 2023. Memphis has advanced past the first round just once under Jenkins, in 2022, when they beat the second-seeded Grizzlies. Minnesota before losing Golden State in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Memphis was ravaged by injuries in 2023-24 and went 27-55. The Grizzlies fired Jenkins with nine games left in the 2024-25 season and lost to the eventual champions. Oklahoma City In the first round of the playoffs.

Jenkins’ success with Memphis made him an attractive head coaching candidate, and he quickly turned his attention to a possible return to Milwaukee rather than waiting to find out if a playoff team made a coaching change.

He realized he couldn’t coach Antetokounmpo.

“When this opportunity came up, I was like, I know people,” Jenkins said. “I know what they stand for. I know what their standards are going to be on a day-to-day basis.”

Jenkins will become the Bucks’ fourth coach in five seasons, not counting Joe Prunty’s three-game interim tenure in February 2024.

Budenholzer, who led Milwaukee to the 2021 title, was fired after the 2023 playoff loss. miami. Adrian Griffin lasted barely half a season, going 30-13 before he was fired. Doc Rivers took over after the season with a 97-103 record and resigned.

The Bucks were one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season as injuries limited Antetokounmpo to a career-low 36 games.

“Giannis brought Milwaukee its second championship and first in 50 years,” Haslam said. “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a tremendous person. He’s arguably one of the best basketball players in the world and we’ll do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization. We don’t know if Giannis will stay with us, but we’ll work through it with Giannis in the coming weeks.”