NBA fines Bucks for Antetokounmpo contract comments

FILE – Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks stands on the court before the game against the Toronto Raptors in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at the Fiserv Forum on May 15, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images/AFP

The NBA slapped the Milwaukee Bucks with a $50,000 fine for comments about a contract extension offer for reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the league said Tuesday.

The fine pertains to recent comments from Bucks general manager Jon Horst regarding a supermax extension for Antetokounmpo. The team is not permitted to offer the contract extension until the summer of 2020.

Asked about Antetokounmpo’s contract situation on September 12 at a town hall event, Horst replied, “The answer right now is we can’t talk and negotiate anything. Giannis, basically a year from now, will be eligible for a supermax extension. At that time, of course, he’ll be offered a supermax extension.”

Antetokounmpo, 24, won the league’s MVP award in 2018-19 after averaging 27.7