Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo signs ‘$228.2m’ deal

Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo has reportedly signed a deal of $228.2m (£170.1m), which is the highest in the history of NBA. The 26-year-old, who is also a two-time Most Valuable Player, has penned down a five-year deal.

The previous record set was a deal of $228m ($169.9m) by Houston Rockets’ James Harden in 2017.

“This is my home, this is my city,” said Antetokounmpo on social media.

“I’m blessed to be able to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next five years.

“Let’s make these years count – the show goes on, let’s get it.”

Antetokounmpo was born in Athens to Nigerian immigrants and used to earn money as a street vendor, hawking watches, sunglasses and bags. He didn’t even own a suit before the Bucks drafted him 15th overall in 2013. The forward would have also been eligible for a free agency had he not signed this deal.

According to his new contract, he can opt out of the deal after four years. Antetokounmpo was also named as the MVP of the league for the second successive season in September and he also was adjudged the defensive player of the year. As a result, he became only the third player in the history of the League, after Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, to earn both in the same season.

Antetokounmpo also has an average annual salary of $45.6m, which is more than Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook’s annual salary. Westbrook signed a five-year deal worth $206.8m with his former team — the Oklahoma City Thunder, which comes to an average annual salary of $41.4m.

James Harden, who signed a $169m extension with Houston Rockets in 2017, had two years worth $59m left on his previous deal at the time of his signing the new one.

The 2020-21 NBA campaign, which has been reduced to 72 regular-season games due to the coronavirus pandemic, is all set to kick off on December 22.