NBA Playoffs 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo shuts down talk of trade request: 'That's not happening'

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Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks saw the curtains come down on their 2019-20 season following a 103-94 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the sidelines for Game 5 after suffering a right ankle injury earlier in the series. Following a disappointing end to their campaign which saw them finish with the best regular-season record in the league (56-17), questions surrounding his future in Milwaukee quickly emerged, but the Defensive Player of the Year was quick to re-affirm his commitment to the Bucks. 

“It’s not happening. That’s not happening,” Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports's Chris Haynes when asked if he'd request a trade in the event he did not sign a supermax extension with the team.

“Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season.”

Antetokounmpo is eligible for a supermax extension, which could be worth $220 million — $80 million more than any other team could offer him as a free agent in 2021. 

“If winning a championship was easy, everyone would have one,” Antetokounmpo added. “We lost. Everyone saw that we lost. It’s disappointing, but what are we going to do? We’re going to keep working. I’ve got confidence in my teammates.”

According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, the Bucks have no interest in moving Antetokounmpo if he doesn't sign a supermax extension, however they could risk losing him for nothing in free agency in 2021.

After having the league's best record for two straight seasons and no Finals appearance to show for it, the pressure is on the Bucks to continue to be aggressive in building a championship calibre roster around the 25-year-old star.

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Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.