Giannis Antetokounmpo Reportedly Asked for Knicks Trade Before Season, Per Windhorst
The Giannis Antetokounmpo situation in Milwaukee just took a dramatic turn - and this time, it’s not just smoke.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the two-time MVP asked to be traded to the New York Knicks before the 2025-26 season even tipped off. That’s not a rumor, not a vague quote, not a cryptic social media post. That’s a direct report from one of the most connected insiders in the NBA.
Speaking on ESPN Cleveland, Windhorst dropped the bombshell: “The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis,” he said. “Because Giannis said he wanted to be a Knick.”
So all the recent buzz about Giannis scrubbing Bucks-related posts from his social media? That may have been the aftershocks. The real quake happened months ago.
A Frustrated Superstar
Let’s be clear: Giannis hasn’t pulled a James Harden and forced his way out midseason. According to Windhorst, after initially requesting a trade, he decided to stick it out - at least for this year. But the writing may be on the wall.
“What appears is that Giannis committed himself for the season to the Bucks,” Windhorst explained. “I know that he asked for a trade, and then he said, ‘Okay, I’m gonna be a Buck this year.’ I know a lot of people in the league don’t think he’ll be a Buck next year.”
That’s a pretty big “but.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie - But the Wins Aren’t There
Giannis, as usual, is doing his part. He’s averaging 30.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game while shooting a blistering 63.9% from the field.
That’s MVP-level production - again. But the Bucks are floundering.
At 9-13, they’re sitting 11th in the East, on the outside of even the Play-In Tournament.
This isn’t what Giannis signed up for. Not after an offseason where Milwaukee went all-in, making aggressive moves to retool the roster around him. The front office tried to keep the championship window open - but so far, the results haven’t matched the ambition.
And now, the franchise that Giannis helped lift from decades of irrelevance back to the top of the basketball world is facing a gut-check moment.
What’s Next?
If Windhorst’s report holds true, the Bucks are now in an unenviable spot: trying to salvage a season with a generational talent who may already have one foot out the door. There’s no indication that Giannis will push for a trade during the season - but the league is watching closely. And so are the Knicks.
New York has long been linked to big stars, but this is different. This isn’t the Knicks chasing a name - this is a name reportedly chasing the Knicks. And if the Bucks continue to spiral, the noise around this situation is only going to get louder.
For now, Giannis is still in Milwaukee, still putting up monster numbers, still saying the right things publicly. But the foundation is shaking. And if this season doesn’t turn around fast, the Bucks may be forced to make the toughest decision in franchise history: hold on and hope, or move on and rebuild.
Either way, this story is just getting started.