Giannis Antetokounmpo could leave NBA in 6 years for Greece – Basketball Insider
Giannis Antetokounmpo may be closer to the end of his NBA career than people expect. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar revealed on a late-night TV show in Greece that he could be leaving the NBA for Greece in just six years.
Antetokounmpo will turn 31 in December.
“I’m 30 years old and I can play in the NBA until I’m 36-38. I want to end my career with a Greek team, why not?” Antetokounmpo said on ANT1’s The 2night Show. “I don’t want to live in the United States. Once I leave the NBA, I want to go back to Greece.
“I could end my career here [in Greece]whether the team is called Filathlitikos, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos or Aris, I am talking about all teams now. “
Lately, there’s been unprecedented speculation about Antetokounmpo’s near-term future. His tenure with the Bucks appears to be coming to an end based on recent comments and his repeated desire to compete for a championship.
Milwaukee has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs three straight seasons.
What does Antetokounmpo’s early exit mean for his legacy?
Antetokounmpo has achieved so much in the NBA at this time. He was selected to the All-Star and All-NBA teams nine times. He was named to the All-Defensive team five times and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20. He is a two-time MVP, winning the 2021 All-Star Game MVP and the 2025 Season Championship MVP.
The most important thing for him is that he won the NBA championship and Finals MVP in 2021.
Another title would put him high on the all-time list, but what about personal records?
Antetokounmpo currently ranks 48th on the all-time scoring list. He has averaged over 2,000 points per game over the past four seasons. If he lasts five more seasons, he could crack the top 10.
He also ranks 69th on the all-time rebounding list. If he can continue on his current pace and amass roughly 4,000 rebounds over the next five seasons, he’ll be in the top 20.
Entering his 13th season, we should also note that Antetokounmpo relies heavily on his athleticism. He’s been plagued by injuries the past few years, so a legitimate question is whether he can maintain the same pace over the next five years.
Currently, he is an MVP candidate and can be the best player on the floor every night.
No matter where he is in his career, Greek fans will appreciate the opportunity to see him in person every night.
