Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo almost got traded to the Brooklyn Nets last offseason, according to NBA insider Brandon Scoop B Robinson.
The Nets are still interested in trading for Antetokounmpo.
Conversation I had over breakfast yesterday with a current player who is a former Net and Buck was this: Giannis almost became a Net this past summer.
Nets still covet Giannis.
From an organizational standpoint a person on the Nets organizational side told me back in June… https://t.co/PfAZmqb01h pic.twitter.com/E0YN5Nhz9S
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) January 21, 2026
Antetokounmpo recently said he will never request a trade from the Bucks, who won the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns but have won just one playoff series since then.
Milwaukee has lost in the first round of the playoffs three years in a row, so many people around the NBA believe Antetokounmpo should ask for a trade.
Going from the Bucks to the Nets wouldn’t position Antetokounmpo in a better spot to win a championship, though. Brooklyn is in deep rebuild mode after trading James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson.
The Bucks are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. If the regular season ended today, Antetokounmpo and Co. wouldn’t even be in the NBA play-in tournament despite “The Greek Freak” averaging 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.
One of the best players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo is making $54.1 million this season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season. The future Hall of Famer doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
Along with the Nets, Antetokounmpo has been linked to the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers in trade rumors. The Bucks, of course, will only trade Antetokounmpo if he asks for a trade.
Before the season, Antetokounmpo requested a trade and wanted to be traded to the Knicks, sources told DallasHoopsJournal. However, Milwaukee and New York didn’t agree to a deal.
Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. He holds career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.