For years, the Nets assiduously collected assets to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo in case he ever became available.
But the superstar decided he’s staying in Milwaukee for now, and that if he did leave he’d reportedly prefer to contend in Manhattan than build in Brooklyn.
Saturday was a reminder of just how far away the Nets were from landing Antetokounmpo, or are from having a contender that could lure him.
Giannis Antetokounmpo goes up for a layup during the Nets’ 116-99 blowout road loss to the Bucks’ Nov. 29, 2025. Imagn Images
The Nets suffered a 116-99 thrashing at the hands of Antetokounmpo and his Bucks before 16,396 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Saturday night.
It underscored the gap between these teams, a seasoned squad led by a star and the tanking Nets playing without Michael Porter Jr., Cam Thomas and Egor Dëmin while relying on rookie Danny Wolf.
“Giannis is one of the best players in the world, if not the best. It’s an opportunity to prove yourself offensively, defensively,” said Wolf, who had a team-high 22 points on 5-for-9 shooting from deep with four assists and four rebounds, all off the bench.
“When you’re playing a talent like Giannis, you’ve got to learn on the fly and you’ve got to pick things up pretty quickly and try to take on the challenge head-on, whether I was guarding him or he was guarding me.”
No Nets successfully guarded Antetokounmpo.
It took him less than 19 minutes to bully his way to 29 points on 12-for-15 shooting and eight rebounds in just his second game back from a strained groin. His return had come Friday at the Knicks, the only team he considered leaving Milwaukee for this summer, per ESPN.
Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket during the Nets’ blowout road loss to the Bucks. AP
After the Nets’ hopes to use Mikal Bridges as a running mate to lure a superstar proved in vain, they dealt him to the Knicks in 2024 for five first-round picks, signaling a rebuild. Ironically that move not only shut the door on Brooklyn’s contention, but left the Knicks short on picks to use in a bid for Antetokounmpo.
There had been questions about whether the two-time MVP would prefer to join a ready-made contender or the power and freedom to paint a blank canvas of a team. His reported interest in the Knicks implied the former, and the Nets powered ahead with their rebuild, making a record five first-round picks this past June.
Dëmin was the first of them, but sat out against the Bucks after his career 23-point, nine-rebound, five-assist outing Friday against Philadelphia. But Saturday marked a second straight great effort by Nets rookies, with Wolf soaking up minutes from the missing Porter and scoring 17 first-half points on 4-for-5 shooting from deep.
Ben Saraf added 10 points and a game-high seven assists.
Wolf’s free throw had Brooklyn within 42-40 with 7:58 left in the half, but they gave up a 20-4 run.
“Some of our rotations defensively could’ve been better. Some of the shots we usually make, we weren’t making,” Wolf said. “There were times … when we were playing as a unit and playing super hard and together, and other times we were not playing with that same intensity. And there’s no excuses for it. Obviously it stings and we’ve gotta turn the page.”
Fittingly, Antetokounmpo capped the blitz with an and-one to put the Nets in a 62-44 hole with 3:39 in the first half. It swelled to 92-60 with 5:17 to play in the third quarter.
The Nets got outscored 18-7 in fast-break points and battered 43-31 on the glass. Combined with letting the Bucks go 16-for-39 from deep, and they had no chance.
Brooklyn (3-16) leapfrogged Indiana into third in the lottery odds. They’re half a game behind leader Washington and second-place Atlanta (holders of New Orleans’ pick), and half a game clear of the fourth-place Pacers.
Terance Mann started after being questionable with right rib soreness. Porter (back), Thomas (hamstring), Haywood Highsmith (knee) and Nolan Traore (G-League) were out.
The Nets’ NBA Cup replacement games will be at Dallas at 8:30 p.m. on Friday Dec. 12 and against these same Bucks at 6 p.m. on Sunday Dec. 14.
