Giannis Antetokounmpo quietly pushed for a fresh start before the season tipped, and the team he wanted was the Knicks.
That’s according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, who reported that the Bucks and Knicks actually discussed a potential trade before talks fizzled.
Milwaukee never pulled the trigger. New York, fresh off its first conference finals trip since 2000, wasn’t willing to meet the Bucks’ price. Milwaukee, meanwhile, wasn’t ready to move the face of the franchise unless he doubled down on the request.
Antetokounmpo guided the Bucks to the 2021 title and became a legend in the process. Since then, Milwaukee has won only one playoff series and stumbled into a 9-13 start this year. The frustration is real, and the league has taken notice.
New York’s interest is no secret. SNY’s Ian Begley previously said Antetokounmpo is intrigued by the idea of winning a championship in New York and sees the same window the Knicks see.
Begley even described Giannis as “very, very intrigued.” The Knicks haven’t won a title since 1973, and the idea of being the star who breaks that drought clearly has some appeal.
For now, Milwaukee still controls the situation. Antetokounmpo is making $54.1 million this season and holds a massive player option for 2027-28. The Bucks won’t trade him unless he formally asks out again.
On the floor, Antetokounmpo has been his usual monster self. He’s averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists on 63.9 percent shooting. The production is there. The wins aren’t.
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