Giannis Antetokounmpo Could Be Missing Link for Oklahoma City Thunder

(Photo : Stacy Revere/Getty Images) MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - Max Strus (#31) and members of the Miami Heat celebrate in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo (#34) of the Milwaukee Bucks after winning Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs in overtime at Fiserv Forum.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is laying down his cards, giving the Milwaukee Bucks an ultimatum as far as the NBA title drive is concerned.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player has already gotten a taste of NBA championship gold when the team won it in 2021. But as most know, things have not been the same since then - a reason the "Greek Freak" wants to see if the Bucks still plan to aim for one.

Giannis says that he doesn't plan on signing an extension until he knows the Bucks will continue to compete for a championship. pic.twitter.com/8H7dJUxPHM
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 24, 2023

Once that is addressed, Antetokounmpo will likely decide whether to stay or go.

Assuming that the Bucks fail to convince the seven-time All-Star, Antetokounmpo will not fall short of suitors. Among the teams linked to the 15th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft include the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks, Marc Stein reported.

"I would not be the best version of myself if I don't know that everybody's on the same page, everybody's going for a championship, everybody's going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don't feel that, I'm not signing," Antetokounmpo said when he spoke to the New York Times.

However, at the end of the day, Antetokounmpo would best fit a team on the rise. Hence, it would be best to look at retooling teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In the eyes of an unnamed executive, the Thunder would be a plausible landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo. They are filled with young players led by Sha Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, and someone like Antetokounmpo would be a fitting addition, Sean Deveney of Heavy.com reported.

"Not to say they would, but they'd have to be a starting point. They have the young talent, they have, I think it is nine (first-round) picks in the next three years. If Milwaukee decides, OK, we've got to move on here, that is the first team you call. There aren't many guys who are going to make the Thunder think about a big move, packaging the assets. But Giannis is one, if he'd want to go there," the unnamed executive quipped.