In August 2025, the New York Knicks tried to make a trade deal with the Milwaukee Bucks to acquire superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the team seems no longer interested in adding the two-time NBA MVP.
Knicks Owner Unaware Of Trade Talks
Knicks owner James Dolan said Monday that he’s not aware of any trade talks between the Knicks and Bucks, adding that team president Leon Rose has the authority to decide against a decision.
“Not that I’m aware of. We love our team right now. They have chemistry, they all like each other,” Dolan said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “I’ve never seen a locker room more copacetic. There’s a lot of energy there.
“Leon can always overrule me. But I don’t see us making a big change. Because we got to keep building up this group. This group can win a championship. I believe that.”
The Knicks and Bucks reportedly got close to striking a deal in August before the 2025-26 season, but ESPN’s Shams Charania reported last month that the trade talks “failed.”
“Essentially, there were failed trade talks in August,” Charania said on NBA Today. “There was a multi-week exclusive negotiating window for the New York Knicks as it was described to me on a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
“They were aware, the Bucks were aware, the parties that needed to know were aware that Giannis Antetokounmpo, if there was a team outside of Milwaukee, he wanted to play for the Knicks. No deal happened.”
The details of the trade negotiations, if there were any, were never disclosed.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Locked In With Bucks
Charania then reported in December that Antetokounmpo and his agents had discussions with Milwaukee about his future and whether staying with the Bucks was his best option.
However, Antetokounmpo denied ever having such conversations.
“If my agent is talking to the Bucks about it, he is his own person,” Antetokounmpo said, per The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “He can have any conversation he wants about it. At the end of the day, I don’t work for my agent; my agent works for me.
“And there’s going to be conversations that are going to be made between him and the Bucks, and him and his other players, and him and other teams and other GMs, executives around the league.
“It’s something that you can’t control. But at the end of the day, I personally have not had the conversation with the Bucks. I’m still locked in. Locked in on my teammates.”
Based on the reports and Antetokounmpo’s comments, league insiders are expecting the nine-time All-Star will stay put in Milwaukee. The Greek Freak has spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Bucks.
Through 22 appearances (all starts) this season, Giannis is averaging 29.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 28.9 minutes per game while shooting a career-best 64.3% from the field and 66.7% from the foul line.
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
