Ahead of a potential offseason trade, Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo praised two fanbases as the NBA’s best.
During a discussion on Marlon’s live stream (h/t NBA Central), Giannis said the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have the most “passionate” fans and make for the best atmosphere to play in:
It is unclear if either the Celtics or 76ers have the desire or ability to acquire Giannis, but he is by far the biggest name believed to be on the trade block, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported two weeks ago that the Bucks were “open for business on trade calls and offers” involving Antetokounmpo.
Trade rumors have been surrounding Giannis since last offseason, and they only grew louder during a 2025-26 campaign that saw the Bucks struggle mightily.
With Antetokounmpo missing 46 games due to injury, the Bucks went just 32-50 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, which was Giannis’ third year in the league.
At his best, the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo is still one of the league’s elite players. Even as he struggled through injuries, he still averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game en route to his 10th consecutive All-Star appearance.
A two-time NBA MVP, one-time NBA champion, one-time NBA Finals MVP and one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Giannis’ word carries significant weight within the NBA.
Because of that, his complimentary comments regarding the Celtics and Sixers could be viewed as an indication that he wouldn’t mind playing for either team should the opportunity arise.
His choices for the NBA’s top fans aren’t a big shock regardless since Boston and Philly fans are often considered to be among the most rabid and passionate in any sport, including basketball.
Celtics fans have been treated to a league-record 18 championships over the years with the most recent one coming in 2024.
The Sixers have won three titles, but their last one came way back in 1983, making their fans’ continued dedication to the team something to celebrate.
Giannis also picked the New York Knicks to win the 2026 NBA championship during his conversation with Marlon, which is worth noting since Charania reported in October that the Knicks were the one team Antetokounmpo was open to getting traded to last summer.
