Due to trade rumors involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks have been in the news. Antetokounmpo has been linked to teams like the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers. The rumors haven’t helped the Bucks, since they’ve fallen to a 10-15 record to start the 2025-26 NBA season. Amid the outside noise, it was reported that the star forward met with his teammates.
On Tuesday, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Antetokounmpo met with his teammates to tell them to focus on playing the grueling season. It was an attempt to keep his team from becoming sidetracked by the trade rumors.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed some of his teammates recently to stress the importance of focusing on basketball and not to allow outside distractions to interfere with the process at hand,” Haynes said.
Haynes’ report was after ESPN’s Shams Charania’s. He said that there’s been tension within the locker room. However, Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma denied reports that Giannis Antetokounmpo met with the team. CBS Sports’ Jack Maloney relayed what Kuzma said on Wednesday.
“I don’t really remember a time he met with us. He didn’t sit us down like the apprentice. It didn’t go down like that,” Kuzma said.
asked kyle kuzma about this report today after practice
his response:
"i don't really remember a time he met with us. he didn't sit us down like the apprentice. it didn't go down like that" https://t.co/kRh1AaiLBi
— jack maloney (@jackmaloneycbs) December 10, 2025
The Bucks are having difficulty this season because they only have one star. Antetokounmpo has also appeared in only 17 games, missing eight contests. When he isn’t playing, it’s tough for Milwaukee to win against its competition.
On Thursday, the team will face the Boston Celtics with a short-handed squad. Antetokounmpo is listed as out due to right calf strain and will miss his second straight game.
Kevin Porter Jr. also addressed the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
The Milwaukee Bucks have tried to keep their composure amid Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade rumors. The star’s teammates have done their best to ignore the talk about a potential roster shakeup. Following their team practice on Wednesday, guard Kevin Porter Jr. was asked about his thoughts.
“This is the last thing I’m gonna say about anything regarding false information,” Porter said. “At the end of the day, everyone needs to wait until Giannis says something. Because all of this is just he say, she say and I guarantee you when we start winning and go 8-0, 9-0, you won’t see nothing about the Bucks.
“We’re not gonna see that positive news. At least for me, this is the last time I’m gonna answer anything false.”
Porter is done entertaining questions regarding the trade rumors surrounding his teammate. He’s focused on helping the team improve their slow start.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
