Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
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Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts scoring a three point basket against the Toronto Raptors.
The New York Knicks are getting a second chance to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo, but once again, they are stopping short of pushing all their chips to the center of the table.
Despite renewed league chatter around Antetokounmpo’s future and the approach of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, the Knicks are not showing the level of aggression required to win a bidding war for the two-time MVP, according to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst.
The hesitation mirrors last summer, when New York had preliminary discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks but declined to escalate talks during a brief window in which Antetokounmpo was loosely available.
Knicks’ Belief in Current Core Shapes Trade Approach
Speaking Monday on ESPN’s Get Up, Windhorst explained that the Knicks’ restraint is rooted in confidence — not caution — in their current roster.
“The Knicks believe in this team, and that could end up being an excellent assessment or that could end up being a mistake,” Windhorst said. “But they believed in this team last summer when Giannis was sort of loosely available. They didn’t make an aggressive offer at that time to move those talks forward.”
According to Windhorst, little has changed since then. While rival teams around the league are monitoring Antetokounmpo closely, New York has not signaled a willingness to construct the kind of complex, multi-team deal that would be necessary to pry the superstar away from Milwaukee.
“If they want to win a bidding war for Giannis now, I think it would take a three- or four-team trade,” Windhorst said. “That is just not happening. They are not showing that aggression to get Giannis right now.”
Knicks’ Winning Streak Reinforces Front Office Confidence
The timing of Windhorst’s comments coincides with one of the Knicks’ most impressive stretches of the season.
New York extended its winning streak to six games Sunday with a 112–110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden, spoiling LeBron James’ latest appearance at the arena. The streak is tied for the longest active run in the NBA.
The Knicks received double-digit scoring from all five starters, led by OG Anunoby’s 25 points. Landry Shamet added 23 points off the bench, including clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
The surge followed a turbulent 2–9 stretch in early January, a slump that the organization now views as an aberration rather than a defining flaw.
Knicks’ Defense, Offense Fuel Championship Belief
During the six-game winning streak, the Knicks have posted the NBA’s best defensive rating at 95.2 points allowed per 100 possessions — nearly eight points better than the next-closest team. Their offense has also surged, ranking third at 119.5 points per 100 possessions over the same span. Their league-leading net rating is a staggering 24.3, nearly 10 points better than the Hornets, who are also on a six-game winning streak.
Those numbers have propelled New York into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference at 31–18, alongside the Boston Celtics, trailing only the Detroit Pistons.
“And I think that’s because they like this team,” Windhorst said. “They don’t think the Eastern Conference is a giant mountain to climb. And while this team has flaws, the entire East is limited in some capacity.”
Giannis’ Knicks Interest Still Lingers
Antetokounmpo, who led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA championship, has long been linked to New York. ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported that Antetokounmpo viewed New York as his preferred destination.
Charania has also named New York among the serious suitors monitoring Antetokounmpo’s situation ahead of the trade deadline. Still, based on Windhorst’s reporting, the Knicks are not prepared to break up their core — even for a generational talent.
A Gamble That Will Be Judged in June
James Dolan, Knicks
GettyJames Dolan reacts during a Knicks game as he sends a clear message on Giannis trade rumors.
If Antetokounmpo remains in Milwaukee and the Knicks fall short of their championship aspirations, the decision could be revisited in the offseason. But for now, ownership and management appear aligned in their belief that the current roster can contend.
As Windhorst put it, “With their words and actions — including what ownership has said publicly — I don’t think we’re headed in that direction right now.”
If Antetokounmpo goes elsewhere and the Knicks fail to win a championship, this will go down as the biggest miss in franchise history.
Whether the Knicks are proven brilliantly patient or painfully conservative will be decided not at the trade deadline, but deep into the spring.