Bucks Fans Eager For Upcoming Season After Giannis Signs Supermax

Leading up to the start of the 2020-2021 NBA season, noise was surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks franchise.

For years, questions arose as to whether or not the Bucks’ star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, would sign a contract extension when eligible on Nov. 20, 2020.

Weeks went by, and Antetokounmpo had yet to sign the contract that would make him the highest paid contract in NBA history.

On Tuesday, all questions in that area were answered when Antetokounmpo posted on social media, notifying the public that he would be signing his supermax extension and staying in Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Bucks drafted Antetokounmpo in 2013. The reigning back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player would go on to change the landscape and culture of Bucks basketball.

“I’ve been a fan since I was born in the 90’s,” 28-year-old Milwaukee native Jason Warren said. “The past two years have been two of the most exciting years that this city has ever seen for the Bucks.”

Now that Antetokounmpo has signed a five-year, $228 million contract extension, Warren said that he thinks things will get even more exciting.

“The Bucks did what the nation thought they had no chance in doing by keeping Giannis,” Warren said. “Milwaukee is going to be a madhouse during basketball season once Coronavirus is gone.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic still sweeping the nation, the usually energetic and rowdy Fiserv Forum will sound much different to start the season. In a time that some are saying is the most exciting time in Bucks history, fans will not be allowed inside the building during home games until further notice.

Danny Boling is no stranger to being in the crowd. He has missed only 12 home games in 11 seasons, and has not missed a single game inside the Fiserv Forum in its two years of existence.

“I’m already itching to get back to cheering on the Bucks to victory in person,” Boling said.

Boling helps lead the Clutch Crew, a group of 100 Bucks fans who replicates a college student section and brings energy the entire game, no matter what the score is.

“There’s definitely a piece of me missing not being able to go to games,” Boling said.

The Bucks are familiar with playing in front of a home crowd that has their back every time they take the court.

Bucks players have said in the past that they feed off of the home crowd, and numbers have backed those statements up. Over the past two seasons and playoffs, the Bucks have a combined 66-13 record in front of their Fiserv Forum crowd.

With no fans, the Bucks will be without their electric home crowd, however, expectations are still the same for some of the fanbase.

“It’s time for us to break through,” Warren said. “Giannis is staying, now let’s get this trophy.”

In each of the last two seasons, the Bucks finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference.

However, they failed to reach the NBA Finals each time. Two years ago, they fell two games short of reaching the Finals. Last season, they were upset in the second round.

“I expect them to compete for the title with the best,” lifelong Bucks fan Aron Brick said.

Even though some fans wish that they could be in the stands this season, they tell Media Milwaukee that it is all for the better.

“Health and safety needs to be the priority and at the forefront for fans, the Fiserv Forum staff and players,” Boling said.

“At the end of the day, it is going to be for the best,” Brick said.

The Bucks play their first game of the season on Dec. 22 in Boston against the Celtics and host their first home game on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors. Game one can be seen on TNT and the Christmas Day game will be on ABC.