The Los Angeles Lakers are set to embark on their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, but with both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves set to miss the entire series, hopes aren’t high in L.A. Many folks have turned their attention to the upcoming offseason, where the team is continuing to get linked to a trade for disgruntled Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
After laboring through a miserable 2025-26 campaign, it appears as if the long-running trade saga involving Antetokounmpo and the Bucks is set to come to an end. Los Angeles is known to be interested in making a move for the Greek forward, but based on his latest comments, it doesn’t sound like he has any interest in landing with the Lakers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Labels Los Angeles ‘Superficial’
It’s felt like Antetokounmpo’s name has popped up in trade rumors for years, but things finally came to a head this season. With Milwaukee struggling from the get-go, Antetokounmpo engaged in a season-long standoff with his longtime team, and after he didn’t get dealt at the trade deadline, the expectation is that he will find a new home over the offseason.
With the Lakers largely expected to move on from LeBron James and begin building around Doncic and Reaves this offseason, it has been linked to a potential move for Antetokounmpo. While he only played in 36 games this season, Antetokounmpo was his dominant self when he was on the floor (27.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 5.4 APG, 62.4 FG%), which would seemingly make him a great fit alongside Doncic and Reaves.
Reports have indicated that while Los Angeles is interested in Antetokounmpo, the feeling isn’t mutual. Antetokounmpo all but confirmed that train of thought recently, as he revealed that he would rather live in Miami than Los Angeles, with his comments about the West Coast city quickly catching fans’ attention.
“I think L.A. is super superficial. I don’t like L.A.,” Antetokounmpo bluntly said on “Gogi’s Garage.”
Lakers Appear Likely to Miss Out on Giannis Antetokounmpo
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Miami Heat
Yes, Antetokounmpo still has to be traded, but he is likely going to have some say in determining where he lands if he does end up getting dealt. A team like the Miami Heat has also shown serious interest in Antetokounmpo, so when it comes to deciding where he wants to play basketball moving forward, it doesn’t seem like the Lakers are going to be a consideration, simply because of where they play basketball.
That’s a tough pill for L.A. to swallow, but it’s not as if it were guaranteed to land Antetokounmpo otherwise, as the bidding for his services may have ruled the team out of the running regardless. First, the Lakers will look to find a way to extend their season by sending the Rockets packing, but once the offseason rolls around, it appears the front office won’t have to worry about Antetokounmpo, meaning it can focus its efforts on re-signing Reaves to a big-money contract.
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