The New York Knicks recently made it official: Mikal Bridges is sticking with the team.
The deal for Bridges will bring him $150 million over four years, but it almost didn’t happen.
That’s because, according to inside reporting, the Knicks were holding out hope of signing Giannis Antetokounmpo, and their quest to get him slowed down their deal with Bridges.
“There were rumors circulating around the league that the Knicks were stalling extension talks for Mikal Bridges in case Giannis Antetokounmpo became available this offseason. Now with Bridges signing a four-year, $150M extension in New York, it’s safe to say that rival teams have accepted the notion that Giannis isn’t leaving Milwaukee anytime soon,” Jake Weinbach wrote on X.
There were rumors circulating around the league that the Knicks were stalling extension talks for Mikal Bridges in case Giannis Antetokounmpo became available this offseason.
Now with Bridges signing a four-year, $150M extension in New York, it’s safe to say that rival teams…
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) July 31, 2025
So, according to Weinbach, other teams need to accept that Antetokounmpo isn’t leaving the Bucks, at least not any time soon.
Ever since rumors of him departing Milwaukee popped up, the Knicks have been at the forefront of the hunt to get him.
Apparently, there is mutual interest between both sides, and there is a good chance that Antetokounmpo could play in New York in the future.
But it won’t be the very near future.
The Knicks will attempt to win with the team they have now, but they won’t give up on the idea of getting Antetokounmpo.
They will keep a close eye on the Bucks this season, and if the team falls short of their goals again, they will definitely attempt to pursue him.
If he ever truly becomes available, the Knicks will do everything they can to acquire Antetokounmpo.
A player like him doesn’t come along often, and he is worth unloading all sorts of contracts.
Antetokounmpo will remain in Milwaukee, for now, but the Knicks will continue to dream of a day when he’s in their jersey.
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