The Bucks stop here but those hoping to see Giannis Antetokounmpo suit up for the New York Knicks may yet have hope.
Milwaukee Bucks franchise face Giannis Antetokounmpo confirmed that his current employers had talks about trading him to the Knicks in a featured penned by Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. New York has long lingered in the Greek Freak’s rumor mill and things hit a relative fever pitch when an October report from Shams Charania of ESPN that stated the Knicks and Bucks entered an “exclusive negotiating window” over the summer.
“National media outlets reported that the Bucks and the New York Knicks were exploring trade possibilities,” Nickel noted. “Antetokounmpo confirmed that was the case, although those reports also stated that nothing was in serious stages. It didn’t matter. It was enough to ignite a wildfire of speculation.”
The trade rumors partly led Antetokounmpo to keep his family in his native Greece during this season, one where the gossip is far from quelled considering what has transpired in Cream City.
Antetokounmpo has been shut down for the season due to a knee/bone bruise injury but he has voiced a desire to play despite the Bucks’ elimination from playoff contention, which has led to an NBA investigation. The season does have at least something of a happy ending, who got to witness the NBA debut of his brother Alex.
Milwaukee’s season is over but the Antetokounmpo drama may have only just begun. He is under contract for next season before a $62.7 million player option kicks in before the 2027-28 campaign.
The Knicks’ eventual postseason fate could play into just how aggressive they are in potentially resuming those discussions, especially considering Antetokounmpo’s reported recurring interest in playing in Manhattan. The 2021 NBA Finals MVP told streamer IShowSpeed that “a lot of people” had made a metropolitan case for him in an interview over the summer and the Knicks also seem to linger in the discussion whenever a big name reportedly expresses interest in moving on.
But at least one famed Manhattanite is warning fans not to stitch Antetokounmpo’s surname on their custom jerseys quite yet, believing that the 31-year-old is destined to remain in Milwaukee.
“Giannis is not coming,” Starks said, per a report from Ben Axelrod of Front Office Sports. “To be honest with you, I’m not sure if he’s going to leave Milwaukee. Because he’s such a loyal individual, and I respect that about him.”
“I’m not saying that he don’t want to come,” Starks continued. “They love the basketball here. It’s the greatest city ever when you winning. But if you ain’t winning, it could be a tough city for you. Everybody wants to be in a big market. Giannis definitely wants to be in a big market, obviously. But you have to win, too, on top of that.”
