Michael Nyarko
The Knicks’ Christmas Day match against the Bucks is in four months, but it became more captivating after Giannis Antetokounmpo discussed his Milwaukee future in an interview with The New York Times.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is 28 years old, can extend his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in September, but he has confirmed he won’t do so. He has three years remaining on the five-year contract he agreed to in December 2020, with the third year having a player option worth $51.9 million.
The two-time MVP stated that he won’t agree to a contract extension with Milwaukee this offseason, and he’s uncertain if he will do so the following summer. The Bucks are under pressure, having replaced their former coach Mike Budenholzer after a disappointing early playoff exit. They’ve brought in first-time head coach Adrian Griffin as his replacement.
“The real question’s not going to be this year — numbers-wise it doesn’t make sense,” Antetokounmpo said. “But next year, next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don’t know.”
He added:
“I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”
Is it likely that the Knicks could trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo during the 2024 offseason?
Similar to Joel Embiid’s situation in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo has shown unwavering loyalty to Milwaukee since he was drafted by the team in 2013. He led the Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021, but they haven’t returned to the Eastern Conference Finals since then.
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Antetokounmpo emphasized his eagerness to secure another championship, whether with the Bucks or another franchise. If the organization is fully committed to pursuing another title, it appears that Antetokounmpo would be content to stay. However, if their focus shifts, he could become a highly sought-after asset in trade discussions.
“You’ve got to see the dynamics,” he said. “How the coach is going to be, how we’re going to be together. At the end of the day, I feel like all my teammates know and the organization knows that I want to win a championship. As long as we’re on the same page with that and you show me and we go together to win a championship, I’m all for it. The moment I feel like, oh, yeah, we’re trying to rebuild —”
The Knicks have openly expressed their interest in Embiid, who stated in a recent interview that his goal is to win an NBA championship, regardless of whether it’s with Philadelphia or another team. Although he later suggested on social media that he was joking about the “anywhere else” aspect, the primary objective in the NBA remains achieving championship success.
Amid the connections between Embiid and the Knicks, some supporters are cautious about the team heavily investing in a player who has battled injuries and hasn’t guided the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In contrast, Antetokounmpo not only boasts a championship win but also holds impressive averages of 26.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game over 79 postseason appearances.
Should Giannis Antetokounmpo choose to leave Milwaukee, the Knicks would undoubtedly be swift in expressing their interest.