Giannis Antetokounmpo has less than three weeks to sign a supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, something Khris Middleton very much wants to see happen.
Middleton spoke about Giannis' impending decision during his media availability on Thursday, saying he's personally invested in convincing Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee:
“He knows I deeply want him to return and sign his extension,” Middleton said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
Middleton himself signed a massive contract with Milwaukee last offseason. In many ways, it was the first in a series of moves the Bucks have made in an effort to convince Giannis to stay.
Milwaukee was aggressive this offseason, trading an enormous amount of future draft capital plus point guards George Hill and Eric Bledsoe in order to land Jrue Holiday. The Bucks also had a sign-and-trade lined up for Bogdan Bogdanovic, though it ultimately fell through the cracks.
For his part, Middleton has done all he can from a basketball perspective. He averaged a career-high 20.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists this past season, giving the Bucks a vital secondary playmaker while also shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc.
With Middleton locked up for the foreseeable future and Holiday now on board, the Bucks would seem to have a strong future foundation.
But Middleton understands the final decision rests with Giannis alone:
“At the end of the day, you’ve just to let him, be him,” Middleton said, via ESPN's Eric Woodyard.
The entirety of the NBA awaits the two-time reigning MVP's decision. Giannis has until Dec. 21 to sign the supermax, or else enter the free-agent market next summer.
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