Giannis Antetokounmpo sadly confirms he will never play for Raptors

The Toronto Raptors appear to have a solid long-term vision, as Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes will help Masai Ujiri build a winner for the last half-decade. Even with that solid infrastructure, having Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo at the center of it all would have been fun to watch.

Ujiri was trying to trade up repeatedly in the 2013 NBA Draft to acquire him, saying that he believed very few players would be as good as him in a few years. Antetokounmpo’s play in that span has proved, once again, that Ujiri’s scouting eye is impeccable.

Raptors fans were hoping beyond hope that he would somehow leave the Bucks and grace Toronto with his presence, but his supermax deal in Milwaukee ended that speculation. On former Raptor Serge Ibaka’s YouTube show, Giannis put all those fantasies to bed emphatically.

In an appearance on Ibaka’s “How Hungry Are You?” show, Antetokounmpo said that it’s “false” he would ever consider playing for the Raptors. Unfortunately, the 0.5% chance of Giannis leaving Milwaukee and coming to the Raptors has been reduced to 0%. Bummer.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will not play for the Toronto Raptors.

Not only is Giannis currently in the pole position for his third MVP in the last half-decade, but he could be the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year over O.G. Anunoby. It doesn’t take a genius to imagine what the Raptors would be if he was in red and black right now.

Antetokounmpo is getting paid upwards of $42 million for each of the next four seasons, and the contract he earns once this one expires might somehow be even more expensive. For that much money, I’d stay in Milwaukee for my entire career as well.

Antetokounmpo and Ujiri had such a strong connection that Toronto was reportedly gearing up to make a run at him in free agency during the 2021 offseason. The Raptors missed out on acquiring the future Hall of Famer when they had the chance, but it certainly was not for lack of trying.

https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1336870799236534272

The Raptors did sign Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis’ younger brother, to a G League deal last season, but that might be as close as they’re going to get to adding the Bucks star. Watching Giannis win award after award with the Bucks could be tough, as some fans will keep imagining what he would have done in a Raptors jersey.