NBA Stars In Awe Of Giannis Antetokounmpo's Lucrative Deal Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo is off the market after the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) signed a new five-year, $228.2 million supermax deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

According to ESPN, the player package is the biggest in NBA history. It will also see Antetokounmpo become the highest-paid player in the league ahead of LeBron James.

There was much speculation over the future of the two-time reigning MVP, who also became the third player in NBA history to win the aforementioned accolade and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

The Miami Heat made no secret about their desire to sign him after freeing up cap space by not making any other long-term commitments.

Jimmy Butler, who is the current franchise star in Miami, was among the first to react to Antetokounmpo’s deal saying “I like it.”

He believes that the only way for the Heat to show that they are among the best is to go up against the best players and the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

"I like it," Butler told Local 10. "I don't think you can go around him. I don't think you can go around LeBron either. You have to go right through them. You have to beat them. You also have to beat the Sixers, Boston, Toronto. There's a lot of squads in the East with some really good players. Doesn't intimidate me none. I actually get excited for it."

"I want to go up against the best, my guys want to go up against the best. That's our way to show we belong. That's how we get our respect."

James also praised Antetokounmpo for sticking with the Bucks but was not ready to compare his career path to the Greek prodigy.

The four-time NBA champion moved from the Cleveland Cavaliers to Heat before heading back to the first franchise that drafted him and then joining the Los Angeles Lakers.

"King James" believes their situations are different.

“I don’t know if I can relate to his situation. All of our situations are different. Totally different. They tried to build something great for him, and they obviously did enough to keep him there. I think it’s great that he’s staying there, that he’s committed to that franchise,” James told reporters.

Part-owner of the Bucks and NFL legend Aaron Rodgers was also pretty ecstatic about Antetokounmpo committing his long-term future to the franchise but was unaware if he will have to make any capital investment owing to the size of the deal.

The team executive appeared on the Pat McAfee Show and spoke about how the deal came about.

The Bucks and Antetokounmpo will be hoping to put on a better show in the 2020-21 season after the Eastern Conference favorites fell to a disappointing loss in the second round of the playoffs last season.

Milwaukee is set to start their campaign against the Boston Celtics on Dec. 23 with an away game at the iconic TD Garden.