For the first time in his 11-year career, Giannis Antetokounmpo is going through a season defined by change.
In his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo has seen it all. He’s been through two ownership changes, five coaching changes and innumerable roster changes. He’s seen in-season trades, offseason moves and everything in between.
But never has one season featured so much instability.
Look at everything that has transpired since the last time Antetokounmpo returned to Milwaukee from the NBA All-Star Game.
On April 14, 2023, right before last season’s playoffs, the NBA Board of Governors approved the Bucks ownership share purchase by Haslam Sports Group. Two weeks later, after an injury that sidelined Antetokounmpo for two and a half games, the No. 8 Miami Heat upset the No. 1 seeded Bucks in five games. A week after the loss to the Heat, the Bucks parted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer. A month after firing Budenholzer, the Bucks officially hired head coach Adrian Griffin on June 5, 2023.
But it didn’t stop there. At the end of September, just days before the start of this season’s training camp, the Bucks pulled off the stunning trade for All-Star point guard Damian Lillard. A month later, Antetokounmpo signed an extension to remain with the Bucks through the 2026-27 season.
Then, after an uneven and sometimes chaotic start to the season, the Bucks dismissed Griffin on Jan. 23 and hired Doc Rivers as their new head coach three days later. As the Bucks return from the All-Star break, they are looking to find their footing with a new coach in a season unlike any that Antetokounmpo has experienced before.