Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is entering an offseason filled with uncertainty, with rumors are swirling about his future in Milwaukee.
As uncomfortable conversations swirl, a former Houston Rocket gave the 30-year-old forward a piece of advice: don’t leave.
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Dwight Howard posted the following message on X Monday morning:
Don’t leave Giannis coming from someone who been there
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) May 12, 2025
Back in 2012, Howard faced a similar predicament to the one the Greek Freak finds himself in today. As a superstar center for the Orlando Magic, he became flustered by the team‘s inability to build a championship-contending roster around him.
After a messy and public dispute with the front office, the Magic traded Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, forming a “Big Three” with Steve Nash and the late Kobe Bryant.
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Unfortunately, Howard’s tenure with the Lakers lasted just one year, as he never found his footing in the offense and battled injuries. The following offseason, he signed with the Rockets, teaming up with budding star James Harden.
His tenure with the Rockets saw multiple playoff runs, but Howard never returned to the first-team All-NBA level that he displayed in Orlando. He bounced around the league in the late 2010s—and even won a championship with the Lakers coming off the bench in 2020—but he seems to have some regrets with how his biggest decision panned out.
Giannis has a big decision to make. His aging co-star, Damian Lillard, just suffered a torn Achilles. After another short playoff run with the Bucks produced more concerns about head coach Doc Rivers, it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore the fact that his odds of winning a second ring in Milwaukee are slim at best.
Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Giannis is still keeping all of his options open. He is under contract with the Bucks until the conclusion of the 2027-28 season, meaning he would have to request a trade if he wanted out.
Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has not made any firm decisions, but for the first time in his career, he is open-minded about whether his best fit is remaining in Milwaukee – or playing elsewhere, league sources told ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 12, 2025
Story on ESPN: https://t.co/2aTg3Bq8o3
The Rockets, who were just eliminated from the opening round of the NBA Playoffs after earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, are seen as a team that will be in the mix if a Giannis trade request does happen.
If Giannis does decide to request a trade, Houston has the foundation, trade assets and cap space to be one of his most enticing destinations.
Giannis might think twice before pulling the trigger if he cares about Dwight Howard’s insight, though. If there’s a lesson to take from Dwight, it’s that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
