Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler knows the Milwaukee Bucks are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. With Giannis Antetokounmpo agreeing to a supermax deal, Butler is ready to go up against the Bucks once again.
Antetokounmpo has signed a five-year, $228 million supermax extension with the Bucks. This means that the Cream City franchise will likely remain one of the top contenders in the East for years.
Despite that, the Heat star isn't intimidated one bit. In fact, he's up for the challenge.
Article Continues Below“I like it,” Jimmy Butler said, per local10.com. “I don’t think you can go around him. I don’t think you can go around LeBron either. You have to go right through them. … Doesn’t intimidate me none. I actually get excited for it. I want to go up against the best, my guys want to go up against the best. That’s our way to show we belong. That’s how we get our respect.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo's signing ends all speculation that he'd test free agency next offseason. After all, while the Bucks have ruled the regular season for the past two years, they've found little success in the playoffs.
In the 2019 postseason, they got booted out in six games by the eventual champions Toronto Raptors, who were then led by Kawhi Leonard. In 2019-20, they got upset 4-1 by Butler and the Heat.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks look more motivated than ever. In the offseason, they acquired a key piece in Jrue Holiday. And after the bittersweet seasons, it is already an established fact that the Greek Freak is starving for that title.