MILWAUKEE — Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo said he didn’t read the reports linking him to the Knicks as a potential trade destination — but he didn’t exactly deny them, either.
“Who said that?” Antetokounmpo said, shaking his head after handing New York a 121–111 loss, their second straight defeat. “I don’t read that.”
An ESPN report from Shams Charania detailed a private offseason meeting between Antetokounmpo and Bucks general manager Jon Horst, in which the superstar forward reportedly expressed interest in joining the Knicks — and only the Knicks — if Milwaukee were to suffer a fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit.
“I don’t remember that,” Antetokounmpo said, later smiling through his answer. “Right now, I’m here representing my team, and that’s it. We beat the Knicks, so it doesn’t matter. What matters right now is we have a game in two days against Golden State, try to stay locked in and get two in a row. But I didn’t read that article. I try to stay away from all that rumors and speculation and trade. It doesn’t concern me one bit. I try to involve myself and I try to help my team win games.”
Antetokounmpo said he doesn’t have time to worry about reports regarding his future.
“[Those reports] would become a distraction for me? I don’t have time. I have four kids. I have a seven-month old, a two-year old, four-year old and a five-year old, so brother, I don’t have time to read,” he said. “Even if I wanted to pay attention to stuff like that, my life don’t let me. I have four little gremlins that are running around, and I have my craft that I have to improve, and then I have to lead the team, and then I’ve got other things: I’ve got my wife, I’ve got my mother, I’ve got my brothers. I got to go to church. I ain’t got time for all that, man. I’m being very very honest with you. I just love playing basketball, and I try to speak on the court.”
On Tuesday, his game spoke plenty.
Antetokounmpo authored a 14-point comeback almost entirely by himself, finishing with 37 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a steal on 16-of-22 shooting. It was the kind of performance that reaffirmed why he remains one of the game’s true singular forces — and why any franchise, New York included, would clear the deck for a chance to acquire him.
The Bucks star admitted there was extra motivation against the Knicks — though not because of the offseason noise.
“Yeah, it was a lot extra. They swept us last year. They were way better than us last year. We didn’t make it tough for them. It was very easy in my opinion,” Antetokounmpo said. “As the leader of this team, I remember. I don’t forget things. I try to, from early shootaround, set the tone for the team and try to remind them last year they swept us, same with the Cavs. I think the team responded in the best way, so I’m happy.”
