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Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is also drawn to the New York Knicks passionate fan base, according to an NBA insider.
While the New York Knicks are widely viewed as a championship-ready landing spot for any star looking to shift the NBA landscape, the franchise’s appeal to Giannis Antetokounmpo may go beyond roster construction and the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Antetokounmpo is not only drawn to the Knicks’ potential to contend — but to the emotional, culturally charged atmosphere surrounding the team, one he believes reflects the sporting environment he experienced growing up in Greece.
“There’s a strong belief leaguewide that Antetokounmpo desires one destination above all the rest,” Fischer wrote on The Stein Line on Sunday. “New York.”
Fischer reported that the “rowdy fanbase gatherings” outside Madison Square Garden — postgame celebrations covered in viral footage over the past two seasons — have resonated deeply with Antetokounmpo.
The Knicks’ electric, sometimes chaotic fan energy mirrors the fervor of European basketball and soccer supporters, whose culture Antetokounmpo grew up immersed in.
“The wait for a championship at MSG has stretched longer than Milwaukee’s own 50-year title drought,” Fischer noted, referencing the Bucks’ 2021 title behind Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Believed a Knicks Trade Was Close — New Reporting Adds Intrigue
Fischer’s latest reporting builds on earlier revelations that Antetokounmpo believed a move to New York had momentum last summer.
“Multiple sources have insisted this week that Antetokounmpo, during the summer, told at least one Bucks teammate that he believed a trade to the Knicks was quite close to materializing,” Fischer reported earlier this week.
But talks collapsed, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, with both sides having different perspectives on what truly transpired during their multi-week “exclusive” negotiation period.
“The Bucks insisted they preferred not to move Antetokounmpo,” Charania reported in October, “but those in Milwaukee believe New York did not make a strong enough offer.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘Temptation’ Is Part of the NBA Landscape
After Charania broke the Knicks trade negotiations in October, Antetokounmpo offered his most metaphorical reflection yet — comparing the situation to “temptation.”
“It’s like temptation,” Antetokounmpo said at the time. “You’re outside, not wearing your wedding ring, people look at you. That’s temptation.”
The comment acknowledged the interest — and the noise — without confirming intent.
“People will approach me saying, ‘This is a possibility,’” Antetokounmpo said. “Ultimately, I’m going to make a decision… My decision today is that I’m here and committed to this team.”
That commitment was soon tested again.
Future Discussions Underway as Bucks Slide in Standings
On Wednesday, Charania reported that Antetokounmpo and agent Alex Saratsis formally opened discussions with the Bucks regarding his future after a 9–13 start left Milwaukee outside the playoff picture.
“Conversations have started,” Charania wrote on X. “A resolution is expected in the coming weeks.”
What once felt like speculation resurfaced with substance — and timing.
Knicks Remain in the Conversation — Even Without Making a Move
Whether Antetokounmpo ever asks out remains only a possibility — but the Knicks have positioned themselves as the destination most closely aligned with his identity, market ambition, and competitive urgency.
The draw isn’t just MSG. It isn’t just the roster. It’s the people and the possibility of bringing the drought-ending championship to basketball’s most mythic stage for his legacy.
As the landscape evolves — and Antetokounmpo weighs his future in Milwaukee — New York remains tethered to the conversation, not because of a trade made… but because of a connection felt.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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