Giannis, knicks, warriors
Getty
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks grabs the rebound before Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks in the second half at Madison Square Garden on November 08, 2024 in New York City.
Giannis Antetokounmpo publicly addressed the growing uncertainty surrounding his future with the Milwaukee Bucks as the New York Knicks remain on the periphery of trade discussions—interested but unwilling to cross a line they believe would undermine their current trajectory.
Speaking Tuesday with Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Antetokounmpo reaffirmed his emotional ties to Milwaukee while acknowledging the urgency shaping the Bucks’ decision-making.
“What I want deep down in my heart is I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career and win here,” Antetokounmpo said.
Still, Antetokounmpo acknowledged that his championship window is finite.
“How many chances do I have left to win a championship?” he said. “You gotta be more careful and more urgent in every decision that you make moving forward.”
According to Owczarski, Antetokounmpo paused for several seconds before finishing his thought.
“But at the end of the day,” he said, “you gotta look.”
His comments came as multiple contenders—including the Knicks—continue to monitor Milwaukee’s posture, even as New York signals restraint rather than aggression.
Knicks Draw Clear Line Despite Giannis Speculation
Though the Knicks remain loosely connected to Antetokounmpo, league insiders have consistently portrayed New York’s stance as measured and deliberate.
Speaking Monday on ESPN’s Get Up, Brian Windhorst made clear that the Knicks’ posture is not driven by fear or conservatism, but by belief in the roster they have built.
“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.
Why New York Isn’t Chasing a Bidding War
While rival teams across the league continue to track Antetokounmpo’s status, the Knicks have not signaled a willingness to assemble the type of complex, multi-team package required to pry a two-time MVP 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.”
That reluctance reflects both structural and philosophical considerations. Executing a Giannis trade would almost certainly require New York to sacrifice multiple rotation players, their remaining draft capital and roster flexibility—costs the front office appears unwilling to absorb amid growing confidence in its current group.
Winning Streak Reinforces Knicks’ Confidence
New York’s position has only been strengthened by recent results.
The Knicks extended their winning streak to seven games Tuesday with a 132-101 rout of the Washington Wizards, a sharp turnaround following a difficult 2-9 stretch that briefly reignited trade speculation around key players.
During that slump, Karl-Anthony Towns found his name circulating in rumor mills—noise he dismissed as part of the job.
“I feel like I’ve been in trade rumors a lot, for damn near a year,” Towns told reporters in Toronto last week. “That don’t matter to me. I don’t look at social media. I focus on the job at hand, which is trying to get wins every single night. As long as I do that, I go home happy.”
Towns had 19 points and 14 rebounds in just 26 minutes against Washington as New York’s rebound continues. They have obliterated their past seven opponents by a staggering 173-point differential.
The Knicks’ recent surge has quieted those conversations and reinforced internal belief that continuity, not consolidation, is the path forward.
Bucks Weigh Offers as Knicks Stay Disciplined
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Milwaukee is actively reviewing offers from several teams, including a player-centric package from the Knicks, as ownership and executives huddle against the clock. While New York remains aware of the situation, its lack of urgency stands in contrast to more aggressive suitors.
For the Knicks, the calculus is clear: Antetokounmpo is a generational talent, but not at any cost.
As Milwaukee weighs its options and rival franchises explore complex trade constructions, New York’s approach remains rooted in conviction—either a prudent bet on a roster they believe can contend, or a decision that will be judged harshly if the opportunity passes.