Giannis Antetokounmpo remained with the Milwaukee Bucks while plenty of other players changed addresses as the NBA trade deadline passed Thursday.
An extremely busy deadline, at that: There were 28 trades made in the week leading up to the deadline, the most in over that timeframe in the last 20 years — with 18 getting finalized Thursday in the hours before the deadline.
That ties a deadline-day record, set two years ago. And 27 teams were involved in at least one trade in the week leading up to the deadline, tying another league record.
Chicago Bulls made 7 deals and parted with 8 players: Recapping their NBA trade deadline moves
But none of them involved Antetokounmpo, who had been the center of attention heading into the trade deadline amid reports that the Bucks started listening to offers for the two-time MVP and nine-time All-NBA selection. The deadline came at 2 p.m., and Antetokounmpo wasn’t going anywhere.
Antetokounmpo, who hasn’t played since suffering a strained right calf on Jan. 23, has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee and led the Bucks to a title in 2021.
Antetokounmpo repeatedly has said that he loves playing in Milwaukee, but he also has emphasized that he wants to continue playing for a team that’s committed to competing for championships. The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last three seasons and are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant also wasn’t traded, even though his future had been the subject of much speculation over the last few weeks.
Morant has spent his entire career in Memphis, Tenn., but the Grizzlies are 11th in the Western Conference standings and already dealt two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz this week as part of a roster overhaul.
Although he’s a two-time All-Star, Morant has seen his stock fall lately because of injuries and off-court issues as well as a drop in production.
There were some notable trades Thursday, but none involved anyone with Antetokounmpo’s star power.
The Indiana Pacers acquired 7-footer Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. The New York Knicks gained some backcourt depth by landing Jose Alvarado from the New Orleans Pelicans.
Most of the biggest names to change teams did so in trades that were reported earlier in the week. That list of players included 2018 MVP and 11-time All-Star James Harden as well as five-time All-NBA selection Anthony Davis.
Chicago Bulls trade hometown kid Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota Timberwolves
Pacers acquire Ivica Zubac
The Indiana Pacers paid a big price to get a big man. The Pacers sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and up to three draft picks to the Clippers.
Zubac, who turns 29 next month, is averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds this season. The 7-footer gives the Pacers a reliable center that could help the defending East champions contend again when Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles injury next season.
Mathurin, 23, was averaging 17.8 points.
Chris Paul’s trade situation
The Toronto Raptors added a future Hall of Famer in Chris Paul, who will likely never play for the team, to get below the luxury-tax threshold.
The Raptors traded with the Clippers for Paul, at least on paper. Toronto also sent forward Ochai Agbaji, a future second-round pick and cash to the Brooklyn Nets, the Raptors announced.
Paul — who is expected to retire after this season — was sent home by the Clippers in November but remained on their payroll.
Cavs trade Lonzo Ball to Jazz
The Cleveland Cavaliers sent guard Lonzo Ball to the Utah Jazz for a pair of second-round draft picks.
Ball appeared in 35 games, including three starts, and averaged 4.6 points, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 20.8 minutes. The Jazz will be the fifth team for Ball in his seven-year career.
Knicks get Jose Alvarado
The Knicks and Pelicans made a last-hour deal Thursday to send Alvarado to New York for two second-round picks and Dalen Terry, whom they acquired in a separate deal with the Bulls.
James Harden, Anthony Davis and other notable trades
The Clippers sent Harden to the Cavaliers for two-time All-Star Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick. Garland, 26, is 10 years younger than Harden.
Davis is going from the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards as part of an eight-player trade. The Wizards are receiving Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum in exchange for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks and three second-round selections.
The Wizards eventually can pair Davis with four-time All-Star guard Trae Young, who came to Washington last month in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Davis and Young are both currently injured.
The Mavs then sent Branham to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for point guard Tyus Jones, a person familiar with the situation told the AP. The Hornets had acquired Jones from the Orlando Magic earlier in the week.
The Hawks acquired Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Lakers for shooting guard Luke Kennard. The Hawks also received Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield from the Golden State Warriors for Kristaps Porzingis.
Each of the conference leaders also made a move this week.
The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2026 first-round draft pick and three second-round selections. The Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons got Kevin Huerter from the Bulls as part of a four-team trade.
The Boston Celtics announced later Thursday that they acquired guard John Tonje from the Jazz in exchange for forward Chris Boucher, a future second-round pick and cash considerations.
Associated Press reporters Tim Reynolds, Brian Mahoney, Dave Campbell, Schuyler Dixon, Joe Reedy, Charles Odum and Michael Marot contributed.
