Watch: Giannis Antetokounmpo enters early dunk of the year conversation after decimating former All-Star
Giannis Antetokounmpo wasted no time making an early dunk-of-the-year bid, posterizing Bulls center Nikola Vucevic in just his second game during the Milwaukee Bucks’ home opener on Friday night.
Midway through the second quarter, Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu attempted to save the ball from going out of bounds but passed it to Milwaukee’s Delon Wright, who drove straight to the lane, challenging Vucevic, a two-time All-Star.
Rather than taking the layup, Wright spotted Antetokounmpo charging in and passed him the ball, setting up a stunning Statue of Liberty-style dunk. Vucevic attempted to contest but reacted too late, unable to even get off the ground as Antetokounmpo completed the play and drew a foul.
Watch the play below:
Here's another angle of Giannis Antetokounmpo's highlight dunk:
Giannis Antetokounmpo says he might get traded if the Bucks underperform again
Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks made headlines by acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, adding an All-Star guard alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Despite this, the Bucks had a rocky season, even bringing in a new coach mid-year. Now, after an offseason of recovery for both Lillard and Antetokounmpo, who were injured during last season’s first-round exit, the "Greek Freak" acknowledged that the stakes have intensified.
“Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded,” Antetokounmpo said during media day (per NBC Sports). “Yeah, this is the job we live. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody.”
“On a serious note, this is the job. It’s the profession that we’re in. At any given moment, if you don’t succeed, that might be it for us. It was the same way with the previous coaching staff, and the year before, the players before. … If you don’t do a good enough job, you’re out.”
Antetokounmpo’s current contract runs for three more seasons, and he has a player option for 2027-28.
However, with fierce Eastern Conference competition from favorites like the Boston Celtics, plus strong teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and emerging squads like the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bucks may consider big changes if they fall short again.