Before the start of the 2020–21 NBA season, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will be able to re-up with the franchise for the first time since receiving a Supermax contract.
Expectations for Antetokounmpo keep rising with each passing season. In 2022–23, he averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists and finished third in MVP voting despite winning twice.
Last year, the Bucks went from top seed to first-round elimination by the Miami Heat in five games. Antetokounmpo missed two games due to a back injury.
Milwaukee is set to reach a critical period in the history of the franchise. From the moment he becomes eligible to sign an extension until the day he does or does not, the league will watch Antetokounmpo.
On a crucial stretch for Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, and Bobby Marks discuss their biggest obstacles.
What is Giannis’s current contractual status?
Antetokounmpo signed a five-year, $228 million supermax contract for this season and next with a December 2020 2025–26 player option. If he declines it, he will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time.
2023-24: $45.6M
2024-25: $48.8M
2025–26: $51.9M (Player option)
His $45.6 million salary this season is 33.55% of the Bucks’ salary limit, below the maximum for a 10-year player. After COVID-19 income losses, the salary cap stayed constant in 2020–21 and climbed 3% in 2021–22, the first year of the extension. Antetokounmpo will be the seventh-highest-paid player in the NBA this season, behind Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Bradley Beal.
What extension is Giannis Antetokounmpo eligible to sign?
Antetokounmpo has two years left on his contract before becoming a free agent, making him able to negotiate a three-year, nearly $169 million extension.
His $51.9 million player option will be replaced by a $52.2 million contract in 2025–26, adding only $117 million.
The extension may cost $186 million if the 2024–25 and 2025–26 salary ceilings are lifted by 10%. The NBA informed franchises at the end of June that the cap would likely rise by 4.4% in 2024–25.
Antetokounmpo has until October 23 to sign an extension. Since he just has one year left on his contract (the player option is ignored).
