Giannis Antetokounmpo was forced to part ways with Malcolm Brogdon as the Milwaukee Bucks' difficult salary cap plan made it difficult to keep a player of his caliber past his bargain rookie contract. The new member of the Indiana Pacers was witness to The Greek Freak's ascent to superstardom, also playing a big role in it as the team's secondary facilitator and a knock-down shooter.

Asked if he wished Brogdon could have stayed, Antetokounmpo didn't wave in saying so.

“Definitely wish he was still here,” said Antetokounmpo, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “One of my friends, one of the guys that I always teased every day when I see him – call him ugly, we’re just going back and forth. I’m going to miss that, but at the end of the day, you got to do what’s best for you. I wish him the best, I wish his team the best and I’m excited to play against him.”

“Can you imagine this team with also Malcolm?” Antetokounmpo said after the Bucks’ 124-115 victory over the Bulls on Thursday night. “But hey, man, everybody takes their decision. His decision was to go to Indiana and build a team over there. I think that was best for him.”

Brogdon was destined to play third fiddle after Antetokounmpo and sidekick Khris Middleton share the bulk of the usage. Brogdon's beefy $85 million deal for the next four years as a result of a sign-and-trade is already looking like a bargain, as he's averaging 20.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists to start out the season, all while burying a lethal 98% of his free throws.

The Bucks surely miss Brogdon's well-rounded game, but the 26-year-old would have never blossomed into the player he is now if he played next to two proven All-Stars like Middleton and Antetokounmpo.