Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo Seriously Considered The New York Knicks This Offseason

Remember when Giannis Antetokounmpo made the NBA world wonder about his fate this past offseason?

In late August, NBA insider Shams Charania finally reported that Antetokounmpo would be staying with the Milwaukee Bucks, presumably because the team had decided to re-sign his brother, Thanasis. This report put an end to the speculation regarding the Greek Freak’s landing spot, but apparently, there was one team that he was seriously considering.

On Monday, Charania revealed in an ESPN piece that the New York Knicks had weighed heavily on Antetokounmpo’s mind. “Several teams were discussed internally, but one emerged as the only place Antetokounmpo wanted to play outside of Milwaukee: the New York Knicks, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN,” Charania reported.

The Antetokounmpo-to-New York scenario was plausible enough that the former NBA MVP’s team discussed this matter with the Knicks for quite some time.

“The Bucks picked up the Knicks’ call on Antetokounmpo, and the sides engaged in conversations for a window of time in August, league sources said, but never got traction on a deal,” Charania stated.

Ultimately, the discussion was scrapped when Antetokounmpo decided to once again play for Milwaukee. Despite this, the prospect of Antetokounmpo in a Knicks jersey remains a massive “what if.”

For starters, the Knicks are set to be mentored this season by Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year. It’s possible that, under Brown’s tutelage, Antetokounmpo would have played alongside the likes of Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.

Last season, the Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. Moving forward, the boys from the Big Apple are looking to go even deeper into the postseason. The arrival of Antetokounmpo might have been the key to an NBA Finals trip.

Now, reality sinks in: Antetokounmpo remains loyal to the team that drafted him, but he’ll have to lead Milwaukee past a formidable Knicks team that is looking to maximize its star power and new head coach. The Greek Freak remains the cornerstone of the Bucks franchise, but apparently, he could have been the darling of Madison Square Garden if things had played out differently.