Overview

• At a July meeting in Athens with GM Jon Horst, Giannis Antetokounmpo raised doubts about the Bucks’ title viability and explored an alternative path forward.
• ESPN reporting says his representatives vetted potential fits, with the New York Knicks emerging as the only team he would consider outside Milwaukee.
• The Bucks and Knicks held a multiweek, exclusive window of discussions in August, but the sides never gained traction on a deal.
• Milwaukee conveyed a preference to keep Antetokounmpo and viewed New York’s offer as insufficient, while the Knicks questioned whether the Bucks were serious about trading him.
• The Knicks’ draft capital is limited after recent star acquisitions, and league reporting frames 2025–26 as a make-or-break season for Milwaukee ahead of Antetokounmpo’s Oct. 1, 2026 extension eligibility.