The New York Knicks moved forward with a contract extension for Mikal Bridges after receiving intel that Giannis Antetokounmpo would not be requesting a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2025-26 NBA season, according to Hoops Wire.
Bridges is signing a four-year, $150 million extension with a player option for the 2029–30 season and a trade kicker, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Under league rules, he is ineligible to be traded for six months.
Had Antetokounmpo asked out of Milwaukee, the Knicks were expected to pursue him aggressively. With no trade request on the table, New York chose to solidify its core by locking in Bridges, who was acquired in a blockbuster draft-night deal.
Milwaukee Bucks Confident in Roster Around Giannis Antetokounmpo
Following their first-round playoff exit to the Indiana Pacers in five games, the Bucks responded with a sweeping roster overhaul. They waived and stretched Damian Lillard, added Myles Turner and Gary Harris in free agency, and brought back several rotation players—Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and Jericho Sims. Pat Connaughton was sent to the Charlotte Hornets via trade.
Despite rumors earlier this offseason, including a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania that Antetokounmpo was “open-minded” about leaving for the first time, Milwaukee’s front office has expressed optimism about retaining its franchise star.
“We have no indication that anything is really changing as far as our relationship with the player we think is the best in the world,” a Bucks executive told Spotrac’s Keith Smith. “We rebuilt on the fly, in a really challenging situation, but we think we did it as well as it could be done.”
Antetokounmpo is entering the second year of a three-year, $175 million extension signed in October 2023 and will earn $54.1 million this season. He has spent his entire career with the Bucks since being drafted 15th in 2013.
New York Knicks Commit to Mikal Bridges
Bridges’ extension signals the Knicks’ continued push for contention and their belief in the 28-year-old as a foundational piece. He reportedly took slightly less than the maximum to help the team preserve flexibility under the NBA’s second apron restrictions.
Although the door on an Antetokounmpo pursuit may be closed for now, the Knicks remain well-positioned to monitor superstar movement across the NBA. With Bridges under contract and their core intact, New York can remain a factor in the Eastern Conference while staying ready for the next opportunity.
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