Superstars have hopped teams and joined other superstars to win championships for a long time now. In the recent era, that trend has taken a huge uptick. In 2016, Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, the most dominant team in the last nine seasons or so. He went on to win two championships as the most threatening player on the roster. However, not every superstar prefers this route. Giannis Antetokounmpo won a championship in 2021 without a superstar. He had players who knew their roles well and executed them to perfection on the biggest stage.

The forward takes inspiration from Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan who spent all their careers with one franchise. But Antetokounmpo also reminds us what kept them with a single team; winning.

Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to be a lifetime Buck but with conditions

The Bucks have been one of the top-rated teams for approximately the last four seasons. Last season, they had the best record in the league but fell to the Miami Heat in the first round.

This first-round exit may have put The Greek Freak in doubt. That’s why he didn’t sign an extension with the team this summer despite being eligible. 

His current comments suggest why he didn’t opt for the extension. Talking to Andscape, Antetokounmpo went in-depth about many issues. One question was if his loyalty to the franchise is linked to whether they are in championship mode or not. Antetokounmpo expressed, “I always envisioned myself to be in Milwaukee for a long time. And I always say that I want to play 20 years. I want to be like Tim Duncan, like Kobe, all those guys that played with one team for a lot of years and won the championship. But at the end of the day, before loyalty, winning comes first. “

READ MORE: Jimmy Butler Accuses Damian Lillard of Tampering After Giannis Antetokounmpo Betrayal: “You Didn’t Hear It From Me”

About his extension, he also made some key comments.

Antetokounmpo is addicted to winning

Regarding his extension, he clarified, “When your extension comes around, it’s like, ‘Oh, he might leave.’ No, no, no. It’s not the case. I want the best possible team. I want to wake up every single day when I come to work and know that I have a chance to win. And I want the organization to be on the same page and not to be comfortable because we won one [title]. So, what we going to wait 15 more years to win another one? No, no, no way. We have to bring it every single day.” Calling Damian Lillard’s arrival a “start”, the forward kept reiterating his hunger for winning.

It is this hunger that led the incredible sharpshooter to the Bucks. Will the duo convert this hunger into the second Bucks title for the second time this decade?

Watch This Story: 1 Day Prior to Possible Bucks Debut, Damian Lillard Drops 2-Word Warning for the NBA