Giannis Antetokounmpo’s teammate, Kyle Kuzma, begged the superstar to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks amid the forward’s ongoing back-and-forth with the franchise.
Ahead of Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics, Antetokounmpo spoke to reporters, expressing his frustration over being left out of the team’s lineup, saying that he wishes to play.
“I’ve never seen a case of a player saying, my caliber of player, that’s like — I’m saying it publicly — I want to f—ing play. You know what I’m saying?” Antetokounmpo continued. “I don’t think I’ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we figure something out.”
An NBA investigation into the matter is ongoing. The league says that “certain facts remain in dispute.” While speaking to the reporters on Friday, Antetokounmpo also indicated that he remains unsure of his future with the Bucks.
On Sunday, he shared pictures on Instagram and wrote a caption that fans speculated references the ongoing drama with the Bucks.
“Never skipped a day of work in my life. Better ask about me,” Antetokounmpo wrote.
Kyle Kuzma left a message in the post’s comments section pleading to Giannis for him to stay in Milwaukee.
“Don’t leave us king,” Kuzma wrote.
The Milwaukee Bucks claim Giannis Antetokounmpo declined to participate in a 3-on-3 scrimmage
The NBA’s investigation found that the Milwaukee Bucks arranged a three-on-three scrimmage for Antetokounmpo as part of his return process. But the forward reportedly declined to participate.
Moreover, both sides disagree over whether Giannis was asked to participate in a group workout the same week. The NBPA has also had a say in the matter and released a statement on Mar. 25, claiming that the Bucks were withholding Antetokounmpo from participating in games as part of a tanking effort.
“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” an NBPA spokesperson wrote.
Antetokounmpo has been limited to 36 games this season, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, shooting 62.4%, including 33.3% from 3-point range.
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