Giannis Antetokounmpo Requested Trade From Milwaukee Bucks Before Season, Wanted To Play For New York Knicks
According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Giannis Antetokounmpo requested a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks before the season and wanted to play for the New York Knicks.
The Bucks and Knicks discussed an Antetokounmpo trade but didn’t agree to a deal.
New York made the conference finals last season for the first time since 2000, while Milwaukee lost in the first round of the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Antetokounmpo guided the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. Since then, Milwaukee has won only one playoff series.
The Bucks will only trade Antetokounmpo if he requests a trade again. Antetokounmpo is making $54.1 million this season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.
NBA insider Ian Begley of SNY previously reported that Antetokounmpo is “intrigued” about potentially winning a championship with the Knicks.
“I was told that Giannis, in terms of New York, he’s very, very intrigued, he has been very, very intrigued, by the idea of bringing a title here,” Begley said on the Zach Lowe Show. “And I mean, it’s obvious to say anywhere he goes, he’d want to win, right? But this is a little bit different. They (the Knicks) haven’t won since ’73. I’m sure that he sees the same window that the Knicks see.”
The Bucks are 9-13. They are in 11th place in the East.
Antetokounmpo, 30, is averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 63.9% from the field and 63.0% from the free-throw line.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He holds career averages of 24.0 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
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