Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks heads for the net as Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks defends at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks had to deal with offseason trade rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo. A report from ESPN’s Shams Charania stated that he was open to being moved for the first time in his career. He ended up not being moved.
Still, the rest of the NBA was put on notice that he is unhappy. Recently, Antetokounmpo removed all mention of the Bucks from social media. When a player does that, that’s typically what players do when they want to be moved.
The Bucks have not been a good team so far this season. Right now, they sit 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. The team is 1-5 without Antetokounmpo in the lineup. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Antetokounmpo asked for a trade over the summer.
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo dunks the ball. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Asked For a Trade
In a recent interview, Windhorst detailed what happened over the summer.
“The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis because Giannis said he wanted to be a Knick. People are like, ‘Oh my God, he deleted a photo from May where he had a Bucks logo’. Guys, he asked to be traded already!”
Antetokounmpo was not moved, and he decided to play this season in Milwaukee. He came out and endorsed the moves that Jon Horst made before the season started. Unfortunately, those moves don’t seem to have worked out so far.
With the new step that Antetokounmpo has decided to take with his social media, teams are certainly going to be circling around the Bucks, trying to make a deal. With the deadline a couple of months away, the Bucks have to make an important decision about the future of the franchise.
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo chases the ball. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
ESPN Insider Talks Giannis Antetokounmpo Timeline
Windhorst was asked about the timeline regarding Antetokounmpo.
“What appears is that Giannis committed himself this season to the Bucks. That’s what appeared happened. But the Bucks are not good. When he hasn’t played, they are 1-5. When he has played, they are 9-8…What you’re asking me is would his viewpoint would change. I don’t know.”
It’s unclear at this point when Giannis will be moved, if he will be moved at all. Antetokounmpo has been a very loyal player so far throughout his career, but that may have changed with how Milwaukee has started this season. It looks like it could be a lost season.
Antetokounmpo has stated that he is more interested in winning championships than he is in individual awards. He has to pick a team that he thinks can help him achieve those goals. If he doesn’t believe Milwaukee is that spot, he might ask for a trade in the coming weeks.
The Bucks would ask for pretty much every asset possible if they did decide to move on from Antetokounmpo. Teams with a lot of assets will be the first on the list of teams to call, if that’s the route these two parties decide to go down.