With the 2026 NBA trade deadline approaching next month, attention across the league is focused on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future. ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst has added to the conversation, identifying a clear front-runner in the race to land the Milwaukee Bucks star.
Speaking on ESPN on Wednesday, Windhorst said the Golden State Warriors have emerged as the team to watch as the league positions itself for a potential move involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“Everyone else is gonna have to try to beat a strong Golden State offer [for Giannis] if it comes,” the NBA insider commented.
"Everyone else is gonna have to try to beat a strong Golden State offer [for Giannis] if it comes."@WindhorstESPN explains why the Warriors would be a major player if Giannis ever becomes available 👀 pic.twitter.com/jgRPEt3iP1
— ESPN (@espn) January 28, 2026
If Golden State chooses to push its chips in for Antetokounmpo, it would be hard for rival teams to match that kind of offer. From the Warriors’ side, a deal now appears far more realistic than it did just a few weeks ago.
With Jimmy Butler sidelined for the season after tearing his ACL, the Warriors are in urgent need of another reliable partner alongside Stephen Curry. If the Warriors are unable to address that before the deadline, the season risks slipping away without much to show for it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry with the Warriors
Mar 7, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Team LeBron guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (30) and Team LeBron forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) before the 2021 NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Curry’s window as one of the league’s defining stars is narrowing. Making a move for Antetokounmpo would give him another elite running mate and a real chance to push Golden State back into the NBA Finals picture.
Through 30 games with Milwaukee this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points while pulling down 10 rebounds and handing out 5.6 assists per game. He has also added 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks, all while shooting an efficient 64.5 percent from the field.
Mar 6, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) meet after the game at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Antetokounmpo has been sidelined more often by injuries this season and is currently working his way back from a calf issue.
More speculation around Antetokounmpo is expected to pick up as the trade deadline approaches. Among the teams drawing the most attention, the Warriors are likely to remain a frequent topic in any potential trade discussions involving him.