For years, NBA fans and insiders have kept an eye on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation. He’s been one of the best two-way players in the game for the better part of a decade, and those players don’t usually last long in small-market teams.
Antetokounmpo has repeatedly doubled down on his commitment to the Milwaukee Bucks organization. He’s said all the right things about wanting to win the hard way and whatnot.
However, he may have changed his stance on that.
The Bucks are struggling this season, and Antetokounmpo had already hinted at potentially leaving if they didn’t go far in the playoffs again this year. According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, he’s already asked to leave.
MORE: Knicks get great reminder about possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade from NBA insider
Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to be traded to the Knicks
Talking on ESPN Cleveland, Windhorst revealed that Giannis explicitly asked to be traded to the New York Knicks before the start of the season. So the people who are making a fuss about him deleting most of his Bucks-related posts from social media might be a little late to the story:
“The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis,” Windhorst said. “Because Giannis said he wanted to be a Knick. So, people (are like), ‘Oh my God, he deleted a photo from May where he had a Bucks logo,’ Guys, he asked to be traded already.”
As frustrated as Giannis has been with the team this season, he might not force his way out at the moment. If anything, he may wait until the offseason.
“Well, that’s the thing. So what appears is that Giannis committed himself for the season to the Bucks. That’s what appeared happened,” Windhorst said. “I know that he asked for a trade, and then he said, ‘Okay, I’m gonna be a Buck this year.' I know a lot of people in the league don’t think he’ll be a Buck next year.”
"Guys, he asked to be traded already," - @WindhorstESPN details what's going on with Giannis and the Bucks 😯 pic.twitter.com/NPlLayk8xu
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) December 3, 2025
The former MVP is averaging 30.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game on 63.9 percent shooting from the floor this season. The Bucks, however, are just 9-13 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, so they wouldn’t even be a playoff team if the season ended today.
The Bucks were one of the most aggressive teams in the NBA offseason, but their moves have yet to pay off.
Now, they risk losing arguably the greatest player in franchise history and the guy who put them back on the map after five decades without a championship.
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