RealGM Basketball Wiretap

05 October 2025

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Rejoins Bucks Training Camp, Participates In Non-Contact Work

  Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the Milwaukee Bucks training camp for the first time on Saturday after recovering from COVID-19 in Greece.

  Antetokounmpo participated in non-contact work, according to Doc Rivers.

  "He said he's going to need a good three days," Rivers said.

  Antetokounmpo said that he was still recovering from a physical standpoint.

  "I think it took a toll on my body. I'm not feeling 100 percent yet physically," Antetokounmpo said. "Just taking it day by day, getting back in shape. I was able to do some 5-on-0, run up and down a little bit. Tomorrow I'll be a little better."

  Rivers added that Antetokounmpo's absence gave the team an opportunity to play without him.

  "The key to our team every year is the minutes when Giannis is off the floor," Rivers said. "So, we've been working on that. And so maybe that'll help us in the long run."

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: I Want To Be On A Team That Gives Me Chance To Win Title

  Giannis Antetokounmpo remains in Greece ahead of the start of the Milwaukee Bucks' training camp due to a COVID infection, but he did speak to the media on Monday via Zoom. Antetokounmpo was asked about his offseason amid reports that he was considering his future with the Bucks.

  "The same thing I've been saying my whole career," said Antetokounmpo. "I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship... it is never going to change. I want to be among the best."

  The Bucks responded to Damian Lillard's Achilles injury by using the waive-and-stretch provision on him to sign Myles Tuner. Milwaukee also lost Brook Lopez to free agency while signing Cole Anthony, Gary Harris and Amir Coffey.

  "It's a disservice to basketball and just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April," added Antetokounmpo. "It's pretty much the same. It's not the first time. I had the same thoughts last year. I had the same thoughts two years ago"

  Bucks governor Wes Edens also discussed a meeting with Antetokounmpo in June.

  "He made it clear that he was very committed to Milwaukee," said Edens. "He likes being here, likes his family being here."

  Antetokounmpo, however, said later that he could not recall the conversation.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Believes Bucks 'Have A Chance' As He Embraces Creator Role

  Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed confidence in the Milwaukee Bucks' championship prospects while emphasizing his preference for a creator role in a Tuesday interview with Sport24 managing editor Harris Stavrou in Greece.

  Antetokounmpo addressed trade speculation that dominated the offseason and what motivates him as he enters his 30s. Antetokounmpo made his first public statement about the upcoming season after months of rumors linking him to potential trades.

  The Greek superstar revealed his need for high-pressure environments to remain motivated. He connected his evolving mindset to personal maturity gained through marriage and fatherhood.

  "I like the challenge," Antetokounmpo told Stavrou. "I have realized that I like to live with the pressure. Is that good? Is it bad? I don't know. If I'm in an environment where there's no pressure and I don't think we can achieve something great, I don't want to be there. It doesn't make me happy as a person anymore."

  "When you reach 30 years old and you have four kids and you're married - I think when you get married, you become more mature - I want to do what makes me happy because I think I deserve it, I've worked for it. What makes me happy is when I win and feel that there is a challenge. I mean, I wake up in the morning and say, 'We have to win today. If we don't win today, what will we hear?' That is the thing."

  Antetokounmpo emphasized his desire to operate as a creator rather than solely as a finisher. The forward praised his performance during the final two months of last season when given more creative freedom.

  "To get the best out of the team and to get the best out of me, I have to be a creator," Antetokounmpo said. "I have to feel like I can create. If you look at the last two months of the team, when I had the green light, if I have the ball in my hands and I have that green light to create, I don't always have to execute, but I have to feel like I'm creating. I have to feel the ball and like I'm part of the team. Not just be a play finisher. Not just go score 30. Get the ball in the pick-and-roll, get the ball in the post and score it."

  "(Creating) is my real self coming out, because that's (what) I did at Filathlitikos, and that's what I always wanted to do. There have been times in my career when I've done it, but most of the time, I've been the finisher. In the last two months when I was more of a creator of the team, I had a good time. I think the team did very well during that time."

  The Bucks' management, including general manager Jon Horst and head coach Doc Rivers, have publicly committed to utilizing Antetokounmpo in a point forward role this season. This strategic shift aligns with Antetokounmpo's stated preferences for increased ball-handling responsibilities.

  Antetokounmpo expressed optimism about Milwaukee's roster composition despite acknowledging the team's youth. He highlighted specific players who could contribute to the team's success.

  "We certainly don't have a lot of experience, but we're young; we have legs, fresh legs. We got a really good big man (Myles Turner). We got a good point guard, Cole Anthony, who I think will be an X-Factor and be the surprise of the year."

  When directly asked about Milwaukee's championship chances, Antetokounmpo provided a confident response that should encourage Bucks fans entering the new season.

  "Yeah, we have a chance," Antetokounmpo replied. "For sure."

• Cormac Ryan, Bucks Sign Deal

  The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Cormac Ryan. Ryan played in 37 games (17 starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League last season. He averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27.4 minutes per game while shooting 97.0% from the free throw line. In five NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025 appearances with Milwaukee, Ryan recorded 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 23.1 minutes per game.

  Ryan transferred to North Carolina for the 2023-24 season with his extra year of eligibility due to the shortened 2020-21 season and finished his college career posting 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 30.3 minutes per game. He was the co-winner of the 2024 Marvin Williams Carolina Way award, which honors the Tar Heel who best exemplifies playing hard, being unselfish and putting the team first. In 152 games (121 starts) with North Carolina, Notre Dame (2020-23) and Stanford (2018-19), he holds college career averages of 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.5 minutes per game.

• RealGM Radio: Danny Cunningham, Haize On The Central Division

  The NBA's Central Division is one of the most competitive in the NBA. Wes Goldberg and guests Danny Cunningham and Haize dissect offseason moves, potential lineups, and bold predictions for the Cavaliers, Pacers, Bucks, Bulls and Pistons.

  From Tyrese Haliburton's season-ending Achilles injury and the Cavaliers battling their playoff demons, the guys break down every angle. They also discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee, the Bulls' longview and why the Pistons could win 50 games.

  Time Stamps
  0:00 Intro: Central Division preview
  5:21 Debate on teams' offseason improvements
  10:39 Most intriguing offseason move: Lonzo Ball trade
  16:52 Myles Turner's impact on Bucks' future
  23:05 Josh Giddey contract situation with Bulls
  29:49 Predictions for Central Division standings
  35:56 Central teams making playoffs
  40:10 Players with changing perceptions next year
  46:51 Bold predictions for the division

  Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or via the RSS feed. Watch on YouTube.

• Thanasis Antetokounmpo To Sign One-Year Deal With Bucks

  Thanasis Antetokounmpo has agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. This will be a veteran minimum contract for Antetokounmpo.

  This contract will reunite Thanasis with brother Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has reportedly decided to start the season with the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo had reportedly been considering asking Milwaukee for a trade earlier this offseason.

  Thanasis Antetokounmpo missed last season while recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon. Prior to that, Antetokounmpo had spent the last five seasons with the Bucks.

  Antetokounmpo played in 71 games over the last two seasons. He's seen a valuable locker-room presence in Milwaukee, and a key to keeping his brother happy and content.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo To Start Season With Bucks

  Giannis Antetokounmpo will start the 2025-26 season with the Milwaukee Bucks. This news was shared by ESPN's Shams Charania in a post reporting that Thanasis Antetokounmpo will sign a one-year deal with Milwaukee.

  Giannis Antetokounmpo had reportedly considered asking for a trade away from the Bucks this offseason. Antetokounmpo was questioning if Milwaukee had enough to compete for another NBA title.

  After a summer of movement, which included signing Myles Turner after waiving-and-stretch Damian Lillard, Antetokounmpo has reportedly decided to at least start the season with the only NBA team he's ever known. This will be the superstar forward's 13th NBA season, all with the Bucks.

• Bucks Had No Interest In Talking Giannis Antetokounmpo Trades With Rockets

  Houston Rockets GM Rafael Stone was a recent guest on ESPN Radio Houston. Stone talked about the Rockets offseason, including clearing up if his team made a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

  Stone offered some insight when he was asked about "the big man from Greece in Milwaukee". While being careful to not comment on another team's player, the Rockets GM made it clear that talks involving Antetokounmpo never got very far.

  "I deal well with Jon Horst, I really like him," Stone said. "Jon was very clear that they weren't doing anything. So, that was that."

  Horst and Milwaukee reportedly made it known to several teams that they weren't interested in trading Antetokounmpo. At this point, it's expected that the Bucks star would have to ask for a trade for the team to even consider moving him.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Cleared To Join Greece For EuroBasket

  Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has now been cleared to join Greece for EuroBasket 2025. Antetokounmpo had to wait for clearance from the Bucks, because his contract is larger than the insurance would cover in case of injury. That meant Milwaukee had to approve their star player's participation in this summer's tournament.

  Greece head coach Vassilis Spanoulis confirmed Antetokounmpo would be with the team following a recent exhibition against Montenegro.

  "He will be fine. On Saturday, he will start training with us normally, which was our plan. He is already working with us on the 5-0," Spanoulis said about Antetokounmpo.

  Greece begins Group C play on August 28 against Italy. Other teams in Group C include host Cyprus, Spain, Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Amir Coffey, Bucks Agree To One-Year Deal

  Amir Coffey and the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a one-year deal. Coffey went undrafted in 2019 and spent the first six seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers.

  During the 2024-25 season, Coffey averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 24.3 minutes over 72 games. Coffey is a career 38.4 percent three-point shooter and shot 40.9 percent last season.