Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time in his career.
The Bucks won the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns in six games. However, Antetokounmpo and Co. have won only one postseason series since then.
Milwaukee signed Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023. Antetokounmpo, 30, will make $54.1 million next season. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
The Bucks won 48 games in the 2024-25 regular season but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of this year’s playoffs in five games. Indiana eliminated Milwaukee in the first round of the 2024 postseason as well.
Since Bucks point guard Damian Lillard could miss the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 against the Pacers, some believe Antetokounmpo should request a trade this summer.
If that happens, the New York Knicks could pursue a trade for the 2021 Finals MVP, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
“After trading for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby, the Knicks – on paper – don’t look like a team that could trade for Antetokounmpo,” Begley wrote. “But league sources familiar with the dynamic say it would be foolish to count the Knicks out because of their roster construction.”
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The Knicks are up 3-1 on the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. They are one win away from reaching the conference finals for the first time since 2000.
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. The superstar forward has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks.
It will be fascinating to see what Antetokounmpo does this summer. The swingman will meet with the Bucks front office at some point this offseason to discuss his future with the team.
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