Even though he plays a very little part for the Milwaukee Bucks, Thanasis Antetokounmpo has established himself as a mainstay. Similar to Udonis Haslem during his final years with the Miami Heat, Antetokounmpo’s primary responsibility is to act as a leader both on and off the court. Still, the older Antetokounmpo brother has refrained from participating in trade negotiations.

For a considerable amount of time, NBA supporters have been wondering why the Bucks have continued to play a player who has less capacity to influence games on the floor. For instance, the Bucks once again extended a contract offer to Antetokounmpo during the previous offseason, despite his meager 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.

In the 18 games he has played this season, Antetokounmpo has once again set new career lows in scoring and rebounds. Many fans quickly made jokes following coach Adrian Griffin’s exit, claiming that Griffin was fired because he wanted to get rid of Antetokounmpo.

In the event that the Bucks trade for Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the New York Knicks are the clear favorites to acquire him, according to Bovada Sportsbook. Given that some fans think the Bucks have him around to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy, many fans were taken aback by the revelation.

Reactions from fans ranged from doubting the claim to pointing out why he appears to be in Milwaukee.

“I’m more likely to marry Zendaya than Thanasty being traded,” a follower wrote.

A opposing team’s NBA rookie stands up for Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Over the years, fans have been quick to make jokes about Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s lack of output. Others, however, have backed him, claiming that the box score doesn’t adequately reflect what he offers to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Emoni Bates, a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers, defended Antetokounmpo from detractors back in November. The incident transpired shortly after Antetokounmpo’s lackluster performance in the months following his re-signing with the franchise.

Bates discussed Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s influence on the Bucks in an Instagram post, pointing out that it doesn’t always show up in terms of playing time.

Bates wrote, “Y’all quick to call somebody trash.” You guys have no idea what this guy has been through or what he had to go through to get here. I think he’s one of the best guys in the locker room. He maintains his enthusiasm and makes sure to complete his work each day without complaining, haha.

“You guys condemn people so quickly just because they have power. It’s depressing, buddy, but we must improve.”

Thanasis Antetokounmpo, 31, has a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks that runs through the end of the 2023–24 campaign. He turns 32 on July 18, which suggests that his playing days may be coming to an end.

However, Udonis Haslem has set the stage for aged players to still have an impact on clubs, so Antetokounmpo might not go away. It will be interesting to see how things turn out with the postseason approaching.