MILWAUKEE — Thirty-seven. Thirty-one. Forty. The Knicks have a Giannis Antetokounmpo downside.
Overlook for a second (however solely a second) the rumors concerning the former two-time league MVP eyeing Madison Sq. Backyard if the Bucks flame out early within the playoffs once more. The Knicks have a extra quick concern: stopping an equal components immovable object and unstoppable drive from barreling his solution to the rim when New York visits Fiserv Discussion board on Tuesday.
Antetokounmpo is, fairly actually, constructed like that: 6-11, 250 kilos, a one-man freight prepare headed sq. into the chest of whichever defender Mike Brown dares to place in his path. He’s averaging 36 factors, 16 rebounds and 7 assists to start out the 2025-26 NBA season.
For the Knicks, that is the check of the evening — and possibly the week — as they attempt to bounce again from their first lack of the season, a disappointing effort in South Seashore on Sunday.
Humorous sufficient, Antetokounmpo’s numbers in opposition to New York (28.6 factors, 10.8 rebounds and 6 assists over his final 10 conferences) are literally under his common averages. He’s the one participant within the league to common at the least 30 factors, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in every of the final three seasons.
However now the stakes are even greater. If the Bucks can’t win, and win massive, Giannis will begin trying elsewhere. And if the offseason rumblings are any indication, the following chapter of his Corridor of Fame profession may unfold in New York Metropolis.
Which brings us to the Knicks and whether or not they have the instruments to maintain him in examine. As a result of if the Knicks ever do go after Antetokounmpo, the identical gamers making an attempt to cease him on Tuesday would be the ones dealt to get him down the street.
Antetokounmpo is within the first yr of a three-year, $175 million deal. He’ll make $54 million this season and $58 million subsequent yr. Antetokounmpo holds a $63 million participant choice he’s sure to say no for a richer long-term contract.
The Knicks, in the meantime, are pressed in opposition to the second apron. After buying and selling for Karl-Anthony Cities, extending Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, and giving OG Anunoby the richest contract in franchise historical past, New York has little monetary flexibility left. They’d should match dollar-for-dollar in any commerce and ship out actual expertise, with few picks remaining after the Bridges deal price them 5 first-rounders.
The 2 groups reportedly mentioned a possible commerce this summer season, however New York balked at Milwaukee’s asking worth. A dominant efficiency from Giannis — paired with a Bucks win — may give Leon Rose and firm one thing else to consider.
And so, Tuesday evening. Knicks-Bucks. Cream Metropolis. Elevated stakes.
Milwaukee waived Damian Lillard after his harm and misplaced a lot of its scoring punch within the course of, nevertheless it added one among Madison Sq. Backyard’s most present villains: Myles Turner, who joined the Bucks after leaving Indiana with a brand new contract in hand. In addition they signed New York native Cole Anthony, whose sickness may maintain him sidelined in opposition to his hometown crew.
So how do the Knicks cease the league’s most unguardable participant?
They don’t: not with one man, anyway. Brown is aware of this in addition to anybody. It’ll take 5 defenders working in unison to gradual Antetokounmpo down, after which second and third efforts as soon as he kicks the ball out.
A lot of that task falls on Anunoby, who earned his $212.5 million deal exactly for nights like this. He’s the uncommon defender who received’t again down from a problem that makes most gamers look small. Bridges could have his again, size, instincts, and elite assist protection able to collapse on each drive.
Each have one thing to show. As a result of if the Knicks ever do make a severe push for Antetokounmpo, one — or each —of them could possibly be the items heading out in return.
So earlier than any discuss of trades or hypotheticals, the mission is easy: cease Antetokounmpo in his tracks first.
If Brunson and Cities are the anchors, the wings should show why they belong beside them — not as an alternative of them.
The wings aren’t the one names that might floor in a possible Antetokounmpo deal. Cities’ max contract, inherited from Minnesota, makes him the highest-paid Knick and one of many league’s priciest commerce chips: $53 million this season, $57 million subsequent, and a participant choice north of $60 million in 2027-28.
In a pursuit this massive, with stakes this excessive, nobody is secure.
As a result of if there’s one factor this entrance workplace has proven, it’s that it’s going to commerce nearly something — and anybody — if it means hanging a banner that’s been 5 many years overdue.
