The San Antonio Spurs are opting out of pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to a report.
SAN ANTONIO — According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the San Antonio Spurs will not enter a bidding war to trade for the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I have been told by folks with the Spurs that we’re not a home for Giannis,” said MacMahon on “The Hoops Collective” podcast.
According to a report from ESPN, the Bucks and Giannis are prepared to part ways, and Milwaukee is exploring the trade market for the All-Star forward.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the Bucks are engaging with teams on possible deals for the two-time NBA’s Most Valuable Player, opening the door to the possibility that Antetokounmpo — currently sidelined with a calf strain — has played the final game of his Hall of Fame career with the team that drafted him in 2013.
There has been much scuttlebutt about the Spurs trading for Giannis to pair with Victor Wembanyama. On the surface, it makes sense because the Spurs would have what the Bucks would want in return: Multiple draft picks and young talent. A move like that would certainly push the Spurs to the top of the NBA and might propel them to an NBA title sooner rather than later.
However, the Spurs are currently playing well, holding the second-best record in the Western Conference, and are in a strong position to make a playoff run. Given this success, they may be reluctant to break up the roster, especially considering the likely demands from the Bucks, which could include some of the Spurs’ young talent and multiple draft picks.
And as MacMahon mentioned, Giannis (31 years old and dealing with calf issues) would not fit the Spurs’ timeline, as the team may be seeking younger players to follow Wemby’s timeline. In addition, he does not address San Antonio’s biggest need: Perimeter shooting.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5, 2026, at 2 p.m. CST.