(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
With just hours to go before the NBA season kicked off, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to a new deal that keeps the two-time MVP with the team for an additional three years.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks signed a three-year, $186 million contract extension, putting to an end rumors about the star player wanting to leave.
Speaking on “Get Up,” Tim Legler said that Antetokounmpo’s signing sent a message to not only the entire organization but also to his teammate Damian Lillard.
“It sends a message to Damian Lillard, ‘You are the right guy. You’re the guy I’ve been looking for,’” Legler said.
.@LegsESPN reacts to Giannis contract extension with the Bucks:
“It sends a message to Damian Lillard, ‘You are the right guy. You’re the guy I’ve been looking for.’ … Now he has a guy next to him that he believes is going to be the impetus to go get more rings.” pic.twitter.com/5jH3xYZYFR
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) October 24, 2023
This is the ultimate seal of approval from Antetokounmpo and a call to Lillard to push the team even further.
Legler claimed that this signing is going to soothe worries for everyone involved with the Bucks.
They were understandably a bit worried when Antetokounmpo made statements about “commitment” and the possibility of him leaving for another team to win a championship.
He clearly feels that the team now has what it takes to secure another championship ring.
This signing came at the perfect time.
Since it was hashed out the day before the season started, the Bucks will now burst into 2023-24 with a boost of energy.
Lillard is on the team, Antetokounmpo is there to stay, and the possibilities feel endless.
But now it’s time for the hard work to begin.
The Bucks will have to convert all of these expectations and high hopes into a winning record.
Antetokounmpo and Lillard showed that they can work well together during the preseason.
Can they keep it up for the next 82 games?
For the last several months, fans of the team have been nervous and uncertain about the future.
Those feelings have been replaced by excitement and optimism because of Antetokounmpo’s big signing.
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