Giannis Antetokounmpo Finally Reveals His True Feelings on Bucks Future Amid Knicks Trade Rumors

For months, whispers about Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving the Milwaukee Bucks have kept NBA circles buzzing. Recent reports linking the two-time MVP to the New York Knicks only added more fuel to the fire.

But the Greek Freak has finally spoken, and his words may calm some nerves in Wisconsin. His message is that he is still loyal to the Bucks and not ready to jump ship just yet, though he knows how tempting that door can be.

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What Did Giannis Antetokounmpo Say About His Commitment to the Milwaukee Bucks Amid Trade Rumors?
As reports of trade talks between the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks surfaced, Antetokounmpo decided to set the record straight. In his media availability on Wednesday, the star forward addressed the swirling rumors with a candid answer that revealed both honesty and loyalty.

“It’s like temptation. And that starts when the season ends, until the season begins,” Antetokounmpo said during his media availability. “There’s gonna be a lot of people who are gonna approach me or approach my agents, and they would say, ‘This a possibility, that’s a possibility,’ but at the end of the day, ultimately I have to make a decision. My decision today is that I’m here and I’m committed to this team.”

Giannis addresses the ESPN report:

“My decision today is that I’m here and I’m committed to this team.”

Full interview is worth listening to: https://t.co/KBor9G16Pt pic.twitter.com/2iqL8LSJwD

— monis (@mrbigfits) October 8, 2025

That statement came as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Bucks and Knicks had actually discussed a potential trade in August, with New York being the only team Antetokounmpo was willing to consider.

According to Charania, Antetokounmpo even approved the Knicks as a possible destination during a face-to-face meeting with Bucks general manager Jon Horst and one of his agents.

The report reignited speculation that Milwaukee’s superstar might be ready for a change of scenery after three straight years of playoff heartbreak.

The Bucks have been eliminated in the first round of the postseason for the last three years, a drought that has tested both Antetokounmpo’s patience and the franchise’s direction.

But for now, he’s putting the rumors to rest. Antetokounmpo is still loyal to the city that drafted him 15th overall and gave him his start 12 years ago.

What Giannis’s Comments Mean for His Future With the Bucks
This isn’t the first time Antetokounmpo has entertained thoughts of change. Back in May, the same insider, Charania, reported that the Greek forward was “open-minded” about a potential move if Milwaukee couldn’t compete for another title.

In a separate media session over Zoom on Sept. 29, when he missed media day due to COVID, Antetokounmpo himself acknowledged the constant speculation.

“Of course, yes. Every summer, there’s truth to every report,” he said then. “I want to be on a team that gives me a chance to win a championship.”

That sentiment echoes the frustration of a player who has carried a small-market franchise to its peak, only to see it fall short in consecutive seasons.

The Bucks’ offseason moves suggest a desire to reset. The team waived Damian Lillard and stretched his contract and brought in Myles Turner, fresh off an NBA Finals run with the Pacers. Head coach Doc Rivers, however, insists the recent trade reports were blown out of proportion.

“I’ve been coaching 26, 27 years, and one thing that I know is that 30 teams call 30 teams, all right,” Rivers said. “I read where it said several conversations, well, that never happened. It was a conversation where a team called and Jon [Horst] has been saying no now for 11 years. I don’t know why this is a new story, but I guess it is.”

Despite the outside noise, Antetokounmpo remains under contract through at least the 2026-27 season after signing a three-year, $175.4 million extension in 2023. He’ll earn $54.1 million in 2025-26, with a player option for the final year.

So while trade talk may never fully disappear, Antetokounmpo is starting his 13th NBA season exactly where he began in Milwaukee. His eyes are still on another championship, and for now, his heart still belongs to the Bucks.