Will Giannis Antetokounmpo be on the Milwaukee Bucks when the 2025-26 season tips off?
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star, averaged 30.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season. Despite his best efforts, the Bucks failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year. Naturally, that led to some rumblings about his future in Milwaukee.
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According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks and Antetokounmpo discussed his desire to be traded to the New York Knicks. That’s if the two sides ultimately settled on parting ways. At the end of the day, the Knicks didn’t make an attractive enough offer to warrant.
“The Bucks insisted to the Knicks that they preferred not to move Antetokounmpo, but those in Milwaukee believe New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade, league sources said,” Charania wrote. “It’s unclear how the Bucks would have responded to an all-out chase by the Knicks. The multiweek process was described by one source with direct knowledge of the talks as an exclusive negotiating window. New York, for its part, believes the Bucks never were serious about entertaining an Antetokounmpo trade, sources said.”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 09: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to a score during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on April 09, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Giannis makes his decision.
On Wednesday afternoon, Antetokounmpo confirmed that he’ll be on the Bucks this season. He said all the rumors about him wanting to play for the Knicks don’t matter.
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“First of all, I haven’t read that story. When the season starts, I try to get off social media and I try to focus on my craft and the team, but yeah, I’ve said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I’m here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it’s definitely going to be hard. We’re going to take it day-by-day, but I’m here. So, all the other extra stuff does not matter. I think I’ve communicated with my teammates, communicated with the people I respect and love that the moment I step on this court or in this facility, I wear this jersey, the rest does not matter. I’m locked into whatever I have in front of me.”
Antetokounmpo said his stance could change in six months from now, but he reiterated that he’s “locked in” with the Bucks.
“Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind I think that’s human too. You’re allowed to make any decision you want, but I’m locked in. I’m locked in to this team. I’m locked into these guys, to this group and to this coaching staff and to myself.”
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The Bucks have Antetokounmpo under contract through the 2026-27 season. If they’re going to trade him, it would make more sense for them to deal him as soon as possible.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Oct 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.