NBA

Bucks’ Thanasis Antetokounmpo almost signed with the Knicks

Milwaukee Bucks Thanasis Antetokounmpo almost signed with the New York Knicks

In July, the Milwaukee Bucks re-signed forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of two-time MVP teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the 6-foot-6 wing revealed in a recent interview with BasketNews that he nearly signed with the New York Knicks last month.

BasketNews: “Just how close were you to leaving Milwaukee for New York?”

Thanasis Antetokounmpo: “Close. Obviously, Giannis is my brother, and obviously, I love Milwaukee. I love Milwaukee. But at the same timeโ€ฆ I want to play. You always want to play and feel important.ย  And at the same time, you want, likeโ€ฆ Itโ€™s just because of how I am as a player.

“That would be different if I were in Europe and any other team. But now it became a little bit more like, oh, okay, heโ€™s on the team becauseโ€ฆ But I was like, ‘You know what? No. Why would I do this?’


“Ultimately, I sat down with the new coach [Adrian Griffin]. During the free agency, I was off in Greece. But I sat down with the new coach and talked with him. He said he appreciates the way I play; he values my game. You know, every coach has a different opinion of everybody.

“But when I picked the teams, hearing the coach and everythingโ€ฆ I thought this was the place for me. And obviously, the Milwaukee fanbase has beenโ€ฆ You donโ€™t know how much I love the Milwaukee Bucks, their fanbase, and how the city has embraced my family for so many years. So it was kind of a no-brainer.”

BasketNews: “Was there a specific conversation that had a major influence on your decision?”

Thanasis Antetokounmpo: “I was in Greece all the time. So, while I was in Greece, I didnโ€™t talk about free agency.”

Thanasis Antetokounmpo re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in July on a one-year, $2.35 million contract, nearly inked a deal with the New York Knicks

BasketNews: “So, only Giannis had the power to influence your choice?”

Thanasis Antetokounmpo: “No, but not only Giannisโ€ฆ We have a great culture in Milwaukee. We have great stuff. And just with the change and everything… Two years ago, when I hit the free agency and signed a two-year deal, many teams wanted to give me an opportunity.

“And back then, I thought I was part of a winning culture and a winning team. But at the same time, I wanted an opportunity to help the team in any way that I could. But most importantly, for the player, it is very important not to let anybody else create a narrative for you. And if someone starts creating a narrativeโ€ฆ No, no, no. This is not who I am. This is not what we do.”

Moreover, it would have made sense for Antetokounmpo to sign with the Knicks this offseason. As a native of Athens, Greece, the forward was selected 51st overall by New York in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Antetokounmpo spent the 2013-14 season with the Delaware 87ers (now Blue Coats) of the NBA Development League (now known as G League). The wing then appeared in only two NBA games with the Knicks in the 2015-16 season. Of course, Antetokounmpo played for the Westchester Knicks, New Yorkโ€™s G-League affiliate, from 2014 to 2016.


The Greek standout played for Spanish pro league Bร squet Club Andorra S.A. (2016-17 ACB season) and Greek pro league Panathinaikos B.C. (2017-19) of the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague.ย 

While with Panathinaikos,ย Antetokounmpo became a two-time GBL champion (2018, 2019), two-time GBL Most Spectacular Player (2018-19), three-time GBL All-Star (2013, 2018, 2019), and two-time GBL All-Star Game MVP (2018, 2019).

In 2019, the forward made his return to the NBA. Since then, Antetokounmpo has spent his last four seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. Heโ€™s made 11 starts in 164 career NBA games. He signed a two-year, $3.61 million contract with the Bucks in August 2021.

In 37 games off the bench with Milwaukee in the 2022-23 season, Antetokounmpo averaged 1.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 5.6 minutes per game while shooting a career-low 43.5% from the floor and 50% at the foul line.

Additionally, in the Bucksโ€™ 121-105 regular-season finale loss against the Toronto Raptors on Apr. 9, he posted a season-high 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes off the bench.


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