Antetokounmpo signs record-breaking NBA contract

0
29

 

By David Awopetu

Two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has signed a new five-year deal with his current Milwaukee Bucks squad.

The contract is worth 228.2 million dollars (187.8 million euros), making it the largest contract ever in the NBA history.

By locking in for the long haul, Antetokounmpo short-circuited a year of rumors about his possible free agency in 2021 and enabled the Bucks to focus on their title push.

“This is my home, this is my city,” Antetokounmpo wrote on Twitter. “I’m blessed to be able to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years. Let’s make these years count. The show goes on, let’s get it.”

In the never-ending tug-of-war for superstar talent between big markets and small markets, Antetokounmpo’s decision cuts against the grain.

Unlike LeBron James in 2010, Kevin Durant in 2016 and Kawhi Leonard in 2019, he didn’t bail for better weather, brighter lights and a clearer title path. Like those stars, Antetokounmpo has felt unrelenting championship expectations for years.

Unlike those stars, he will spend much of his prime bearing that burden without the help of an A-list sidekick and without much hope of recruiting one.

Antetokounmpo, a 211-centimeter-tall all-rounder with prominent skills, won NBA’s Most Valuable Player in two consecutive seasons.

The record-scale contract has come as a surprise as the NBA faces an economic crisis due to the impact of the coronavirus, with a decrease in revenue of about 1.5 billion dollars.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has just turned 26, adds a new chapter to his life story that already reads like a fairytale.

Ten years ago, he tried to help his parents in Athens as a street vendor of handbags, watches and bracelets to make ends meet. In the following years, he tried to officially obtain Greek citizenship in order to pursue his dream in the NBA to help his family financially.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here