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Giannis Antetokounmpo admitted at the Bucks’ media day last week that he was open to being moved to a new team over the summer.
On Tuesday, his preferred destination was revealed.
The Bucks and Knicks discussed a trade for the nine-time All Star in August, ESPN reported Tuesday after Antetokounmpo and his representatives determined it was “the only place” he wanted to play besides Milwaukee. The Knicks don’t have many tradeable assets, and according to the report, the team felt the Bucks “never were serious” about doing a deal.
After winning the NBA Finals in 2021 and falling in a tight second-series the next year, the Bucks have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs the past three seasons. The team has been plagued by injuries to Antetokounmpo co-stars such as Dame Lillard and Khris Middleton, both of whom are no longer with the team. Lillard tore his Achilles in April against the Pacers in Game 4 of the Bucks first-round playoff series against the Pacers and is out for this upcoming season.
In July, the Bucks waived Lillard and his $113 million contract, putting more than $20 million on their books for the next five years to sign free agent center Myles Turner in an attempt to appease Antetokounmpo. While Antetokounmpo has praised the team for its offseason, ESPN reported that he remains skeptical of the Bucks’ ability to contend, even in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
Bucks GM Jon Horst flew to Greece in August to meet with Antetokounmpo about the state of the team. After discussing the offseason, ESPN reported Antetokounmpo “aired his concerns about whether this team could truly achieve championship contention.”
The Knicks are considered a top-two team in the East this season as they return a core of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges that made the franchise’s first conference finals in 25 years in May. But even if Antetokounmpo asks for a trade later in the season, the Knicks lack young and promising players to trade as well as draft assets after surrendering five first-round picks to the Nets to acquire Bridges in July 2024.
ESPN reported that the Bucks felt the Knicks “did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade.” At the Bucks’ media day, Antetokounmpo admitted he was open to playing for a new team over the summer and denied he affirmed his commitment to the franchise in a June meeting that team owner Wes Edens had described.
“I cannot recall that meeting,” Antetokounmpo told reporters on Sept. 29.
“Every summer there’s truth to every report,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “I want to be on a team that gives me a chance to win a championship. It’s a disservice to the game to not want to compete at a high level, to want your season to end in April. It’s not the first time. I had the same thoughts last year, two years ago, five years ago. It’s never going to change. I want to be among the best, compete with the best, and win another championship.”
Regardless of contract status, NBA stars of Antetokounmpo’s caliber hold significant influence over where they end up. Antetokounmpo could still force his way to the Knicks, like Kevin Durant pushing the Nets to trade him to the Suns in 2023 despite other teams having more desirable assets. The Mavericks trading Luka Dončić out of nowhere in February was the exception, not the rule.
Antetokounmpo will make $54 million this season in the first year of a three-year, $175 million extension he signed in 2023.
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