Charles Barkley Criticizes Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors
Following the Milwaukee Bucks’ early exit from the 2025 NBA Playoffs, trade rumors surrounding star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have been rampant. Despite Antetokounmpo’s exceptional performance this season—averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game—many speculate that the Bucks could trade him in an effort to rebuild and give him another shot at a championship.
However, not everyone agrees with this potential move, including NBA legend Charles Barkley. Barkley voiced his opinion on the matter during TNT’s NBA Playoff coverage on May 13, expressing frustration with the idea that it might be time for Giannis to leave Milwaukee.
Hell of an effort, Giannis. pic.twitter.com/46omxNOuqG
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 30, 2025
“I get annoyed at people on television saying, ‘It’s time for Giannis to leave Milwaukee,'” Barkley said, as reported by Christopher Kuhagen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I’m like, wait, y’all didn’t say that about me, and you didn’t say that about Patrick Ewing when they weren’t winning championships.”
Charles Barkley wants to see Giannis spend his entire career in Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/s9EdpTf7Mn
— BucksShowYo🦌 (@BucksShowYo) May 14, 2025
Barkley pointed out that during his own career, when he played in Philadelphia, he never heard commentators suggest that he should leave in order to win a championship. “When I was playing in Philly, I don’t remember guys on TV saying, ‘They’re wasting Charles Barkley’s prime,'” Barkley continued. “‘No, I’m going to keep battling. That’s my job.’ I wanted to spend my whole career in Philly.”
The NBA legend emphasized that there’s no need for great players to leave their teams when they aren’t winning championships every year. “This notion that when a great player isn’t winning, he has to move—I don’t agree with that,” Barkley said. “I’d love to see Giannis spend his entire career in Milwaukee. They’ve won one championship. I hope they win another, but if they don’t, this idea that ‘I have to leave because we’re not winning’—I’ve always hated that.”
As trade rumors continue to swirl, Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: he is undeniably one of the greatest players in the franchise’s history, having won two MVP awards and leading the team to an NBA Championship in 2021. Moving him could ultimately prove to be Milwaukee’s biggest mistake.
Leave a Reply