Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said he plans to finish his professional basketball career in his native Greece after he’s done playing in the NBA.
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP who led the Bucks to the 2021 NBA championship, is entering his 13th season in the league.
“I’m 30 years old, I can play in the NBA until I’m 36-38. I’d like to end my career in a Greek team, why not?” Antetokounmpo said on ANT1’s The 2night Show, according to BasketNews. “I don’t want to live in the United States. As soon as I leave the NBA, I want to return to Greece. I could end my career here, whether this team is called Filathlitikos, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, or Aris, I’m talking about all the teams now.”
The Athens, Greece, native began his professional basketball career with Filathlitikos, a Greek B league team, before being drafted by the Bucks in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft.
He has also played for Greece’s national team at the Olympics, FIBA World Cup, and EuroBasket, including a 7-2 record and third place finish at EuroBasket in September.
Antetokounmpo has two years remaining on his three-year, $186 contract extension he signed with the Bucks in 2023. He is eligible to become a free agent in 2027.
Antetokounmpo is one of the most accomplished NBA players of the past decade. In addition to his NBA championship and two MVP awards, Antetokounmpo has earned nine All-Star selections, nine All-NBA selections, has been named to the All-Defensive Team five times, and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20.
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