Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo Requested Trade to Knicks Before Season, per Windhorst
Well, here’s a plot twist that could shake up the Eastern Conference for years to come - and it might’ve almost happened already.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Giannis Antetokounmpo requested a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks before the season tipped off, and the destination he had in mind? The New York Knicks.
Yes, the same Knicks who haven’t hoisted a championship banner since 1973. The same Knicks who finally broke through to the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time in over two decades. Apparently, Giannis saw something brewing in New York - and he wanted in.
Windhorst dropped the bombshell during a recent segment, stating plainly: “Guys, he asked to be traded already.” That revelation confirms what had only been whispered around the league: that there were real conversations between the Bucks and Knicks about a potential deal. Talks happened, but nothing materialized.
Let’s pause and unpack the gravity of that. We’re talking about a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, and a nine-time All-Star who led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA title - reportedly asking out of the only NBA home he’s ever known. And not just asking out, but wanting to join a franchise that’s spent most of the last two decades rebuilding, retooling, and reimagining its identity.
Since that 2021 championship run, it’s been a frustrating stretch for Milwaukee. The Bucks have managed just one playoff series win in the years that followed, and they've now been bounced in the first round for three straight seasons. That’s not the trajectory you want when you’re trying to keep a generational superstar happy - especially one who’s still producing at an elite level.
And make no mistake, Giannis is still that guy. At 30 years old, he’s averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game this season.
He’s shooting a blistering 63.9% from the field - a number that speaks to his dominance around the rim and his ability to get whatever shot he wants inside. Free throws remain a work in progress (63.0%), but that’s never been the centerpiece of his game.
Despite Giannis’ continued brilliance, the Bucks are just 9-13 and currently sitting in 11th place in the East. For a team that was built to contend, that’s nowhere near good enough.
As for the Knicks, they’ve been lurking in the shadows of the league’s elite for a while now, but last season’s playoff breakthrough gave them a taste of what could be. And according to SNY’s Ian Begley, the interest between Giannis and New York might not be a one-way street. Begley reported that Antetokounmpo has been “very, very intrigued” by the idea of winning a title in New York - not just winning, but doing it there, in a city that hasn’t celebrated an NBA championship in over 50 years.
Begley added that Giannis sees the same championship window the Knicks do. That’s a telling quote.
It suggests this isn’t just about market size or legacy - it’s about basketball. It’s about timing.
And it’s about belief in a roster that’s starting to look more and more like a real contender.
Now, it’s important to note: Milwaukee isn’t planning to move Giannis unless he makes another formal trade request. He’s under contract this season at $54.1 million, and he holds a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 campaign. So the Bucks still have some leverage - for now.
But this latest report changes the tone of the conversation. It’s no longer just speculation or future hypotheticals. If Giannis has already asked out once, then the clock might be ticking louder than ever in Milwaukee.
And if the Knicks are the team he’s eyeing, then the league’s balance of power could be one bold move away from a seismic shift.
Stay tuned. This story isn’t over. Not by a long shot.