Milwaukee locked up its homegrown superstar to a supermax extension in 2021 — Boardroom takes a look at the details behind the Bucks’ landmark Giannis Antetokounmpo contract.
The kind of start to Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s career is one that is on par with the game’s all-time greats.
In nine seasons, he’s won Most Improved Player, two MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year award, a title, and a Finals MVP. He is in the prime of his career and is one of the most devastating forces in the NBA. He has earned his nickname, “The Greek Freak,” using his absurd athleticism at nearly seven feet tall and 250 pounds to be everywhere and do nearly everything for his team.
In 2021, he brought the Milwaukee Bucks their first championship in 50 years, dominating the Phoenix Suns in the closeout Game 6 with 50 points (and a legendary postgame meal).
After that season, the Bucks knew a new deal was in order. There were whispers of Giannis being recruited to Golden State by Stephen Curry — confirmed by Curry himself, but for a video game, not to team up on the court.
Regardless of the amount of truth there, Milwaukee couldn’t risk letting a homegrown superstar leave for nothing. (Giannis was selected 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, which looks like a steal nine years later.) In turn, the Bucks inked Antetokounmpo to a supermax extension of five years worth over $228 million. Two years later, that final year was reworked as part of a three-year, $186 million extension.
Let’s take a look at the numbers behind Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo contract.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Contract Details & Salary
All dollar figures via Spotrac.
Original supermax contract terms
Years: 5 (final year is a player option)
Total value: $228,200,400
Average annual value: $45,640,084
Free agency: 2025 or 2026
2023-24 salary: $45,640,084
2024-25: $48,787,676
Following news on Oct. 23, 2023 of the player’s new contract extension, his supermax deal retroactively becomes four years and approximately $176.26 million, expiring in 2025. The original 2025-26 player option is now replaced as part of the new three-year pact.
2023 contract extension terms
As first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Years: 3 (final year is player option)
Total value: $186,000,000
Average annual value: $62,000,000
Free agency: 2027 or 2028
If the player serves out all three years of the new extension, he’ll sick around in a Bucks uniform through his age-33 season.
Here is the breakdown on the Giannis extension in Milwaukee:
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 23, 2023
25-26 $57,604,893
26-27 $62,213,285
27-28 $66,821,676-Player Option
The $57.6M salary in 2025-26 replaces a $51.5M player option.
The extension is based on the salary cap increasing 10% in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Career Earnings
TOTAL NBA EARNINGS THRU 2023-24: $234,477,446
ESTIMATED SALARY EARNINGS THRU 2027-28: $469,265,122 (requires exercising player option)