The secret Giannis Antetokounmpo talks that could have reshaped the NBA

The 2025-26 NBA season is about to begin, and it could define the future of the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who joined the franchise in 2013, has become arguably the most important player in team history. But after 12 years filled with highs and lows, that partnership may be nearing its end. What happens over the next few weeks could determine whether a split comes sooner rather than later.

Antetokounmpo still has two guaranteed years left on his contract, but he can opt for free agency in the summer of 2027. That date hangs over Milwaukee’s front office like a sword of Damocles. The Bucks know they can’t afford to reach that point without a long-term solution. By the end of the 2026-27 season, there will be only two real options: offer him a max extension, four years and roughly $275 million starting in October 2026, or trade him before then.

The Bucks’ goal is clear: keep their franchise cornerstone. Giannis’s goal is just as clear: win another championship. The question is whether Milwaukee is still the best place to do that.

Giannis losing faith in Milwaukee’s title chances

According to recent reports, Antetokounmpo’s faith in the Bucks’ championship potential is fading. Shams Charania detailed a July meeting in Athens between the Greek star and Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst. The two discussed the team’s direction, short-term competitiveness, and mutual expectations.

Horst reportedly expressed confidence that this roster could contend for a conference finals appearance—the Bucks’ first since their 2021 title run. But after three straight first-round exits, Giannis has grown increasingly frustrated. He’s said to doubt whether even after replacing the injured Damian Lillard (out for the season with a torn Achilles) with newly acquired NBA finalist Myles Turner, the Bucks can realistically compete for another ring.

The reason the Knicks didn’t get Giannis

Despite the relative quiet this offseason, speculation around Giannis’s future never truly stopped. When Milwaukee was eliminated back in April, most insiders believed the Bucks had reached the end of their cycle and that several teams would battle to land their superstar. Yet, those blockbuster talks never materialized, at least publicly.

Now, sources have revealed that in August, the Bucks and New York Knicks held exploratory talks about a possible trade for Antetokounmpo. Both sides reportedly blamed the other for not pursuing negotiations more seriously. The Bucks thought the Knicks’ offer wasn’t competitive enough; the Knicks believed Milwaukee never truly intended to part with Giannis. Still, the fact that the Bucks even engaged with New York is telling.

It’s also significant that Giannis is said to view the Knicks as his preferred destination if he leaves Milwaukee, at least for now.

A league-altering move in the making

Such a move would reshape the NBA landscape. The Knicks, already projected to be among the top contenders in the Eastern Conference alongside Cleveland, would instantly become favorites to reach the Finals. It would also mark the first time in years that a true megastar has actively wanted to play in New York, a validation of the franchise’s patient rebuild and improved culture.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently reported that around the league, most executives now expect Antetokounmpo to leave Milwaukee within the coming months. The timing, he noted, may depend on how the Bucks start the season. If things go south early, it wouldn’t be surprising if Giannis requests a trade before February’s deadline.

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