The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have started conversations on the NBA star’s future with the franchise, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday. With a 9-13 record to start the 2025-26 season, many have begun to believe that the two sides could part ways soon. The discussion is more about Antetkounmpo’s fit with the team or elsewhere.
Charania wrote on ESPN that a resolution regarding the conversations could come in the next few weeks. That will determine if Antetokounmpo will be available ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Trade rumors have circulated about the Greek star even during the offseason.
Ahead of his potential trade availability, the New York Knicks are considered the frontrunners to pull off a deal. However, Charania reported that Antetokounmpo’s list of trade destinations could expand.
On Wednesday’s “NBA Today,” Charania explained that other teams besides the Knicks could trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“The New York Knicks emerged as the one team that he was open to being traded to, that he desired outside of Milwaukee,’ Charania said. “There was a two-week exclusive negotiation window. Now deal occurred. And if this does end up going down that path, where a trade is explored in season, it’s going to be well beyond just the Knicks from my understanding.”
Giannis is open to playing for teams other than the Knicks
"It's going to be well beyond just the Knicks from my understanding"
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 3, 2025
As the lone star in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo has struggled to lead the team to a winning record. The Greek Freak wants to win another championship with the franchise. However, it looks impossible without a co-star and a competitive group around him.
Doc Rivers shut down the trade rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo
While reports have hinted that the Bucks could part ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo in a potential trade, head coach Doc Rivers seems tired of the noise. Ahead of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, Rivers shut down the talk about his star player.
“So here we go again,” said Rivers. “There have been no conversations. I want to make it clear, and I would say one more time, but for the fiftieth time, Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever. I cannot make that more clear. I go to the source. I talk to the source every single day. He loves Milwaukee and he loves the Bucks.”
Doc Rivers on the latest Giannis Antetokounmpo report:
"Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever. I can't make that more clear.
"I go to the source. I talk to the source every single day … He loves Milwaukee and he loves the Bucks."pic.twitter.com/F2876Q8ttU
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 3, 2025
Antetokounmpo isn’t helping shut down the rumors. On X (formerly Twitter), the star forward deleted his posts from late 2021 to the present. Fans have started to speculate that the two-time champion could be hinting at a fresh start with the Bucks.
However, no one can confirm why Antetokounmpo did that on social media.
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Follow me on X at @BarbecueBro, and follow us at @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Reign Amurao via email at reignamuraonba@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
