Giannis Thread - 13th Season with the Bucks

[aboveAverage]

I think the interesting part of that report is that Giannis gave them the indication that he’d be interested in the Knicks if he were to ask out. That’s how I understood it.

But still no reporter is saying that he ever asked out or even anything close to that. Just that he might consider it in the future if the Bucks are not contenders, and he threw in the Knicks as a potential team he might consider. In fact, I think he’s said that multiple times, even going back a few years.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

giannis signals thru back channels a very specific interest in the knicks

the knicks call and the bucks uncomfortably chat

giannis declares he doesnt ever recall telling the bucks owner hes committed to milwaukee as his family all moves out of the city.

the entire bucks team including giannis is "here" and the season will be "hard". the season will be over in "6 to 7 months" and then we can see if its been "too hard"

some bucks fans are like what the actual **** is this **** show and other bucks fans call nothing burger.

ahh joy i for one do agree it will be a hard season

[Ron Swanson]

Thought Camille on the LOB pod had a good comment about how this team needs to perform out of the gate in order for a lot of this stuff to quiet down, even if just temporarily. She threw out 13-7 as a number through the first quarter of the season and I think I agree. Don't care as much about the media crap (that's gonna continue all season even if we're on pace for 50+ wins), but that 13-7 mark seems like a sort of bare minimum threshold to keep the apathy from setting in and everyone engaged. Absolutely can't have another 2-8 or 3-7 start with Doc having these dudes completely unprepared.

[BucksFanSD]

1) since the Bucks don't have their own picks for the next few years would they go for "win now" if they trade Giannis? Towns, Robinson, OG are all that type. I see most people wanting picks but I'm not sure if that's what the Bucks would go for.

2) is there any competition other than the Knicks that Giannis would allow? Giannis will be a free agent in two years so he holds the leverage and even more so every day that passes. The Knicks drafted Thanasis and have been pursuing Giannis for years. It doesn't surprise me that there is fire there.

[raferfenix]

I think Edens pissed Giannis off putting him on the spot at media day and he acted out leaking the Knicks stuff to Shams.

Reasonable likelihood he regrets it now seeing the repercussions, probably with a dose of Leon Rose adding fuel to the fire.

If this were LeBron and Rich Paul they may be thinking far enough ahead to get Bridges locked up long term to center him in a package instead of Brunson (to the Bucks or in a multi-team deal) when he's trade eligible before the deadline.

That doesn't seem like Giannis' style though. And like Sam Amick wrote:

For Antetokounmpo’s part, it was quite impressive to see him walk the line between admitted angst and appeasement during his session with the media. He didn’t run from the reports about his concerns, saying (accurately) that it’s only human for someone to want what’s best for themselves and their family. But in stark contrast to so many star player sagas that have come before, from Dwight Howard to Jimmy Butler, James Harden and the like, he made it abundantly clear that his professionalism would not wane.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6705000/2025/10/10/knicks-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-news-latest/

[EasyE31]

Giannis still being committed for this season, putting up monster, likely career high numbers across the board, and then if we suck/it doesn't work out, going to the front office and saying "sorry guys, I'm not gonna sign the extension right now because I don't have faith this roster can compete for titles unless something changes" is pretty much the biggest solid he can do for the franchise if this is how it has to unfortunately end.

I agree with this.

I also think its important to point out the other side of the coin. Which is the Bucks out perform this year, get to the conference finals, and have a very compelling trade asset to add to the roster next offseason.

[pifhluk23]

NY to Athens is the easiest from any NBA city standpoint, I'd be shocked if he didn't end up on Knicks or Nets if traded. I'm glad Brunson is "untouchable" he's never going to be the #1 guy on a championship team.

[engelmartin]

NY to Athens is the easiest from any NBA city standpoint, I'd be shocked if he didn't end up on Knicks or Nets if traded. I'm glad Brunson is "untouchable" he's never going to be the #1 guy on a championship team.

Still a nine and a half hour flight though, not exactly “easy.”

[MickeyDavis]

Giannis and family don't fly commercial airlines and haven't for a long time. So NY has no advantage other than it's a bit closer than MKE. And as far as other NBA cities, NY would have no flying advantage over Boston, Washington, Philly

[BigO]

I'm back and refreshed for what appears to be one of Giannis's last seasons in Milwaukee.

The only thing that makes sense out of all the nonsense is that over the summer his family decided that Milwaukee wasn't a long-term answer.

Giannis wants his Greek roots enmeshed with his kids and the largest Greek presence outside of Greece is NYC, where they have Greek language schools.

So either the Bucks trade him to the Knicks or Nets in the next two years and get something back or Giannis will wait two years and the Bucks will get nothing.

It appears Giannis hasn't been upfront with the Bucks and with the fans. I don't believe his claim that the only thing he wants is championships. He clearly has other priorities, which is admirable, but don't bs us.

[paulpressey25]

It appears Giannis hasn't been upfront with the Bucks and with the fans. I don't believe his claim that the only thing he wants is championships. He clearly has other priorities, which is admirable, but don't bs us.

Bingo.

And I think once you’ve threatened your spouse with divorce it is hard to put that toothpaste back in the tube.

And for those of you who say “this is no different than other years” oh yes it is. We’ve lost Dame and all those draft picks we gave up to get him. And Giannis has had people in his ear the past six months telling him the Bucks have no assets to get better.

[humanrefutation]

It appears Giannis hasn't been upfront with the Bucks and with the fans. I don't believe his claim that the only thing he wants is championships. He clearly has other priorities, which is admirable, but don't bs us.

Bingo.

And I think once you’ve threatened your spouse with divorce it is hard to put that toothpaste back in the tube.

And for those of you who say “this is no different than other years” oh yes it is. We’ve lost Dame and all those draft picks we gave up to get him. And Giannis has had people in his ear the past six months telling him the Bucks have no assets to get better.

Explain to me how anything he's said or done indicates that his priority isn't competing for titles. Whether here or elsewhere.

[BigO]

It appears Giannis hasn't been upfront with the Bucks and with the fans. I don't believe his claim that the only thing he wants is championships. He clearly has other priorities, which is admirable, but don't bs us.

Bingo.

And I think once you’ve threatened your spouse with divorce it is hard to put that toothpaste back in the tube.

And for those of you who say “this is no different than other years” oh yes it is. We’ve lost Dame and all those draft picks we gave up to get him. And Giannis has had people in his ear the past six months telling him the Bucks have no assets to get better.

Explain to me how anything he's said or done indicates that his priority isn't competing for titles. Whether here or elsewhere.

The rumors about Giannis and New York have been around a long time.

What's different now is that Horst and the Knicks had a discussion and apparently that is the only team they did that with.

Assuming the above is true, the only reason would be that Giannis expressed interest in the Knicks (likely thru his agent).

If all Giannis was interested in was a championship, he wouldn't limit himself to the Knicks.

[StickeeFingaz]

I still can’t get over the fact that he’s fine with his wife and kids living away from him on the other side of the world. Completely shocked.

[LUKE23]

The Knicks do not have a package that would make it worth it to trade GA. It's that simple.

[emunney]

The Knicks do not have a package that would make it worth it to trade GA. It's that simple.

They have more value on their roster than most teams though. If they were motivated they could probably get close enough to the best offer that we'd take it. Ultimately, since we don't have our own picks, the idea that most of us would prefer to execute some super complicated trade giving us a big warchest of so-so prospects and valuable picks is probably not something we'd seriously pursue.

[jakecronus8]

Bingo.

And I think once you’ve threatened your spouse with divorce it is hard to put that toothpaste back in the tube.

And for those of you who say “this is no different than other years” oh yes it is. We’ve lost Dame and all those draft picks we gave up to get him. And Giannis has had people in his ear the past six months telling him the Bucks have no assets to get better.

Explain to me how anything he's said or done indicates that his priority isn't competing for titles. Whether here or elsewhere.

The rumors about Giannis and New York have been around a long time.

What's different now is that Horst and the Knicks had a discussion and apparently that is the only team they did that with.

Assuming the above is true, the only reason would be that Giannis expressed interest in the Knicks (likely thru his agent).

If all Giannis was interested in was a championship, he wouldn't limit himself to the Knicks.

Yep. Knicks are not a good trade partner for Milwaukee if Giannis wants to win titles. They'd be gutted. San Antonio still remains the team that makes the most sense if he wants out and wants to be playing for titles.

For the Bucks, if NY is the only place Giannis wants to be then the Nets make more sense as a trade partner as they have literally 30 tradable picks at the moment.

The more I hear and put pieces together the more I believe:

1. Giannis does indeed want out.

2. Giannis doesn't want to be held accountable or blamed for asking out.

3. Something changed in the relationship between Giannis and the org and perhaps his family dynamic as well.

Less than ideal way to start the season. I feel bad for Turner/Bobby etc. They signed for under market value, assumingly because of Giannis' presence.

[MickeyDavis]

The Knicks are NOT good trading partners for Giannis. At all. There would have to be another team(s) involved. Any trade of Giannis that doesn't include some good young talent and potentially good picks is a non starter. The Knicks have neither. We don't need guys like KAT (only one year younger than Giannis). I don't give a **** where Giannis wants to go.

[LUKE23]

They have more value on their roster than most teams though. If they were motivated they could probably get close enough to the best offer that we'd take it. Ultimately, since we don't have our own picks, the idea that most of us would prefer to execute some super complicated trade giving us a big warchest of so-so prospects and valuable picks is probably not something we'd seriously pursue.

The biggest issue I see is that if we move on from a 30/31 year old GA, are we really going to target a collection of worse players in the same age range, which is essentially the Knicks entire core? I don't see it. I do think, and hope, that if we moved on from GA, we would look at it through a long-term lens.

Bottom line, if GA does ask out, I'm sorry, I'm not sending him where he wants to go. I'm telling him he needs to get a list of 5 or so teams as acceptable destinations, and then those 5 can start a bidding war.

[jakecronus8]

The Knicks are NOT good trading partners for Giannis. At all. There would have to be another team(s) involved. Any trade of Giannis that doesn't include some good young talent and potentially good picks is a non starter. The Knicks have neither. We don't need guys like KAT (only one year younger than Giannis). I don't give a **** where Giannis wants to go.

Any Giannis trade for me either needs a young superstar talent in it, or upside picks with multiple shots at a superstar. Starts and stops there. Otherwise there's more value to the franchise to just have Giannis play out the next year and a half before you move him.