For many NBA fans, they believe it's a player's goal to play under the brightest lights possible in the country's biggest media markets as this would give them the best opportunity of achieving the ultimate goal and win an NBA Championship.
Los Angeles is one of those markets, and the NBA was only recently there themselves for the NBA All-Star game. Many players have been linked with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers over the next two years due to the amount of money the franchise has to play with in free agency.
However, one player that won't be going there to play his basketball anytime soon is Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and not just because he is tied down to his current team until 2021.
The two-time All-Star said during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles that while he has enjoyed being in the area for a couple of days, he doesn't envision himself being there on a long-term basis as he doesn't like how crazy things are there.
Antetokounmpo said, via Matt Velazquez Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “I could never see myself being out there. It’s great for two, three days but it’s a little bit — things are going a little bit crazy.
“Of course, because of the All-Star Game, there was a lot of people there. … In Milwaukee — I love Milwaukee — it’s low-key. I can walk down the road, down the streets without anybody bugging me — nobody interrupts my conversation or anything. I love how quiet and calm Milwaukee is.”
While The Greek Freak will be staying with the Bucks until at least the expiration of his current contract in 2021, that's not to say other teams haven't already tried to poach him away. Giannis mentioned that Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers attempted to do so when the two had a conversation over the weekend.
“He told me I should trust the process and come play for Philly. That was my reaction — I just laughed.”
A lot of teams are going to be interested in Antetokounmpo, as he is playing on an MVP level and has shown he has the capabilities of transforming any franchise. However, so long as he has a say, it doesn't look like The Greek Freak is going to be changing teams anytime soon.