For months, whispers around the league suggested the Knicks were delaying a Mikal Bridges extension, just in case Giannis Antetokounmpo became available. From the mainstream media to opposing fanbases, talk of the Greek Freak's supposed displeasure with the team and his alleged desire to leave town dominated headlines. That dream is dead.
The NBA's most persistent conspiracy theory just died in a New York boardroom, and the Knicks' decision to lock up Mikal Bridges might have saved Milwaukee's championship window. By signing Bridges to a four-year, $150M extension, New York essentially announced to the league that Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't available – and never was.
The yearly Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes are over (for now)
There’s been no shortage of leaguewide speculation about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future ever since Milwaukee’s early playoff exit and the Damian Lillard fallout. And with the Knicks among the most persistent rumored suitors in recent years, their hesitation to extend Mikal Bridges raised eyebrows.
That is, until now.
The New York Knicks have officially inked Bridges to a four-year, $150 million extension, removing any doubt about their intentions. The message is loud and clear: they’re building around Bridges and company for now, and they're not holding out any hope of possibly landing the Greek Freak any longer.
Of course, their interest in Giannis is likely to remain as a contending team, and they can always make a run at him before the trade deadline with the very contract they signed Bridges to.
But as it currently stands, it's obvious that decision likely didn’t come lightly. New York had been linked to Antetokounmpo as recently as this offseason, with league insiders speculating that they were positioning themselves for a run if the Milwaukee Bucks unraveled.
For a time, it was entirely possible. But as fans know, that didn't happen. And it's clearer than ever that Giannis is staying in town for at least another season.
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, even the Bucks themselves feel confident that their franchise player is staying put.
“We have no indication that anything is really changing as far as our relationship with the player we think is the best in the world,” a Milwaukee front-office executive told Smith. “We rebuilt on the fly, in a really challenging situation, but we think we did it as well as it could be done.”
That "rebuild on the fly" included the acquisition of Myles Turner, a bet on Kevin Porter Jr., and the return of Ryan Rollins. It's far from a finished product, but the Bucks clearly believe they’ve done enough to keep Giannis engaged and invested for now.
For Milwaukee fans, this should at the very least signal the end of yet another exhausting speculation cycle. The constant rumors and hypothetical trade packages created unnecessary anxiety around a player who apparently never seriously considered leaving.
It's clearer than ever: Giannis isn't going anywhere. And if the Knicks are calling off their chase, it may be time for everyone else to do the same.