Throughout the summer, Giannis Antetokounmpo had been at the center of trade rumors. However, after no move coming up and Giannis himself never publicly stating the desire to leave, the Milwaukee Bucks made several moves to keep hold of the Greek Freak. All the way from signing reinforcement such as Myles Turner, to bringing in the Greek superstar’s brother Thanasis on a one-year deal, it seems like it has worked out. Giannis has decided to stay for at least one more season with his beloved franchise, but not without making another demand.

Although you might think that bringing in Thanasis and adding some depth would’ve pleased the two-time MVP, that’s not the case. Instead, to have the maximum chances of achieving success, Antetokounmpo believes that head coach Doc Rivers must change his coaching style and allow him to operate as not just the scorer, but also as the facilitator. During his latest interview with a Greek media outlet, Sport24, the 30-year-old revealed he thinks this could be the key to success for the franchise.

Giannis made a clear demand to his team. “To get the best from the team and from me, I have to be a creator. I need to feel I can create. If you look at the last two months, when I had the green light—if the ball is in my hands and I have that green light to create… I don’t always need to finish, but I need to feel I’m creating, that I’m part of the team and not just a finisher, not just going in to score 30, take it in the post and have to put it in,” he told Sport24.

The nine-time NBA All-Star pointed out that for the past two months, he’s been playing as a creator, and it has helped him find a new level to his game that he never knew existed. Well, if we’re being honest, Giannis Antetokounmpo does have a point because this summer he led Greece to their first-ever podium finish at the FIBA EuroBasket, as they finished 3rd, and throughout the tournament, the Greek superstar not only played as a ruthless scorer, but also linked up with his teammates to create chances for them.

Giannis averaged 27.3 points along with 10.6 rebounds, but the most impressive number on his stat line from the competition was the 4.1 assists he dished out per game. He had a remarkable four games with a 20-point, 10-rebound, and 5-assist line, a stat line that no other player had more than three times in the last 30 years of EuroBasket.

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Although these are not record-breaking assists, you can see that when he’s not just playing simply to score, it helps him elevate his teammates. So, that’s why the Greek sensation has made this demand to the Bucks front office and the coaching staff, because it won’t just help him, but the entire franchise.

More so given the fact that Milwaukee has lost its primary ball handler, Damian Lillard, this summer. Even though the Bucks have added a few players to replace him, it’s safe to say they won’t be having the same impact as the perennial All-Star. So, this should further prompt Doc Rivers and Co. to give Giannis the green light to play more on the ball as a creator. Now, will the Bucks coaching staff hear him out? That’s something we’ll have to wait and watch, as Antetokounmpo voiced his concern for the new season as well.

Giannis Antetokounmpo shows concern for his future in Milwaukee

Although the chances of Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded this season have faded away, that doesn’t mean the Milwaukee Bucks forward will not be the center of the trade rumors yet again next summer. Yes, while the 30-year-old seems to be planning which role he best fits in for the upcoming season, he himself admitted to the fact that no one is safe. This came after Sport24’s host asked Giannis about how he felt when Luka Doncic was traded from Dallas to L.A. last season, and if he thinks something similar could happen to him in the near future.

“Right, but I’m already expecting it,” Antetokounmpo said. “Because it doesn’t mean that what you’ve given to the team, that the team won’t do what’s best for the team. Because they are not always the same owners. And when I say owners, the team presidents now are not the same as when we won the championship. He is another. And if Giannis does not or cannot offer me, I will change him. I will do the best for my team and for my investment.”

The Greek Freak pointed out that he already believes that the Milwaukee Bucks can trade him at any moment. So, even though he might be safe right now, there’s no telling what might happen just before the trade deadline. The main reason he thinks behind this is the change in ownership or the change in the front offices, something that played a huge role in Doncic’s stunning trade, as the team’s ownership changed, which caused the trade to happen.

That’s why Giannis Antetokounmpo believes that he can also be traded despite having given so much success to the franchise. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that the Bucks won’t be thinking about trading their franchise player, given that they’ve done so much to just keep him for at least one more campaign. But again, you never know, and this might be the last time we see Giannis play in a Bucks uniform, so we should enjoy him as long as he’s in Milwaukee.