Exploring how Giannis Antetokounmpo could maximize his earnings to north of $320,000,000 if he plays a waiting game

Giannis Antetokounmpo sent the NBA into a frenzy when he said he wouldn't sign an extension this year with the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis didn't commit to signing one next year, either. The two-time MVP outlined he would only extend his stay with the franchise if he has assurances about the team's motivations to win a title.

In the wake of these comments, much has been made of Giannis' next move and the contract he is eligible to sign starting this year. Apart from pursuing the goal of winning a chip every year, the Bucks star will also look to maximize his earnings as he enters his career's peak years at age 28. He could earn north of $320 million in salary if he plays the long game.

Exploring how Giannis Antetokounmpo pushing the extension deep into 2025 can help him earn $320 million

Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the third year of the $228.2 million designated veteran contract extension he signed in 2020. He's guaranteed $45.6 million this season and $48.6 million next season. Giannis has a player option for $51.9 million in his final year of the deal in 2025-26.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. Giannis has multiple options. He could sign an extension with the Bucks this season on a two-year $128 million contract, which will be added to the remaining three years starting this year until 2025. So Giannis will earn $271.4 million until 2027-28. In this scenario, he will opt into the player option for $51.9 million in 2025-26.

The other route he can take is to agree to decline the player option and sign a three-year $177 million extension, slightly increasing his total salary to $271.5 million.

He could earn up to $295.5 million if he picks up his player option by signing a three-year $194.8 million extension in 2024. The option where he opts out of his contract in 2025 sees him signing a four-year $244.9 million extension, which will combine his earnings to a sum of $293.7 million.

Giannis Antetokounmpo could stretch this till 2025 to secure the most lucrative contract. Let's say he plays out the entire 2024-25 season without signing an extension until the end and agrees to opt into this player option.

In that case, Giannis could sign a four-year $269.4 million contract that increases his total salary to $321,349,028 over five years, including the player option worth $51.9 million, which indirectly becomes the first year of his new deal. The final year of his extended contract would fetch him $74.5 million.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will only be eligible for a four-year $235 million contract in free agency with a new team. If he declines the player option and re-signs with the Bucks in free agency, that deal will fetch him $317 million over five years. Milwaukee can offer him a more expensive contract than a new team due to them having his bird rights.