Giannis open to playing for Bulls later in career

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has become synonymous with the franchise that drafted him and that he has led to an NBA championship, but he has not ruled out the possibility of wearing another jersey before his career is over.

In promoting his new ambassadorship with the telehealth company Antidote Health, Antetokounmpo was asked by Fox 32 Chicago about the potential of playing for the Bulls in the future. And while reiterating his commitment to the Bucks, Antetokounmpo said he would be open to the idea of one day playing for his rival down Interstate 94.

“I think anybody you ask that question that plays basketball, if he said no, he’d be a liar,” Antetokounmpo said in the interview with Fox 32 Chicago. “It’s a team that won multiple championships; it’s a team that one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player to ever play this game, played for. So it’s a no-brainer; everybody would love to play for Chicago.”

Antetokounmpo has four years remaining on the five-year, $228 million extension he signed before winning Finals MVP and leading the Bucks to the 2021 NBA championship. He made a $1 million investment to Antidote Health, which was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in New York City, and conducted several interviews late last month to promote the company.

Although Antetokounmpo can appreciate the Bulls’ franchise history and ties to Michael Jordan, in recent years he has been one of the biggest obstacles stopping them from adding to that legacy. He helped lead the Bucks to a victory over the Bulls in the first round of the NBA playoffs this past April — averaging 28.6 points, 13.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists during the five-game series. Chicago’s victory in Game 2 of that series is the only time the Bulls have beaten the Bucks with Antetokounmpo on the active roster since 2017.

“Down the line, you never know. You never know how life brings it, maybe I play for Chicago,” Antetokounmpo said. “But right now I’m committed to Milwaukee.”