Before their championship-winning 2025-26 season, the New York Knicks reportedly explored the possibility of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Milwaukee Bucks had seriously considered moving their franchise star, via Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
According to sources, Antetokounmpo had conveyed to people around the league that he would be open to joining New York if Milwaukee decided to make him available in a trade.
The Knicks were reportedly interested in exploring that possibility and were prepared to evaluate a potential deal.
However, those discussions never gained significant traction because many around the league believed Milwaukee was not genuinely interested in trading Antetokounmpo at the time.
“I don’t think Milwaukee was really serious about trading him,” one source said. “But if they had been willing to trade him, the Knicks would’ve traded for him.”
Despite monitoring the situation, New York ultimately stayed the course with its existing roster.
Team decision-makers believed they already possessed a championship-caliber group and felt that replacing Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown would provide a different approach that could help maximize the team’s playoff potential.
That confidence proved justified. The Knicks kept their core together and went on to capture the 2026 NBA championship, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
While New York’s interest in Antetokounmpo was real, the situation has changed considerably.
With the Knicks now focused on defending their title, they are no longer viewed as a likely destination if Antetokounmpo is moved.
League expectations continue to point toward a potential trade before the 2026 NBA Draft, with the Bucks star widely projected to remain in the Eastern Conference.
The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are currently viewed as the leading contenders should Milwaukee ultimately decide to move the former MVP.
Knicks Were Ready To Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo Last Offseason If Bucks Made Him Available https://t.co/gkBUZCYNvL
— RealGM (@RealGM) June 15, 2026
