The New York Knicks have opened their season looking every bit like a title favorite, outworking the Boston Celtics in a 105-95 win on Friday to move to 2-0. New head coach Mike Brown has quickly instilled his identity: toughness, rebounding, and possession control. But one analyst believes the Knicks still have another level to reach.
In his latest Bleacher Report column, Greg Swartz urged the Knicks to explore a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, calling him the kind of superstar who could make New York the clear favorite in the East.
### The Report: Knicks Still on Giannis’ Short List
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Knicks were the only team outside of Milwaukee that Antetokounmpo expressed interest in joining before trade talks cooled in August. Swartz noted that pairing Giannis with Jalen Brunson would give the Knicks two of the NBA’s top-10 players—a combination that immediately shifts the franchise into championship-or-bust territory.
While the Knicks have every reason to be thrilled with their current roster, the chance to land a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber remains a dream worth keeping alive.
### Why Giannis Fits New York’s Identity
The Knicks under Brown are built around physicality and extra possessions—a blueprint Giannis would thrive in. After Friday’s win, Brown emphasized that “it’s about the possession game,” highlighting his team’s dominance on the boards even without Mitchell Robinson.
“Because everybody is so talented offensively. You just got to try to find ways to generate more possessions,” Brown said.
Giannis embodies that exact mentality: effort, energy, and relentlessness. Alongside Brunson’s control and scoring mastery, Antetokounmpo’s two-way dominance could create a nearly unstoppable inside-out dynamic.
Swartz also noted that swapping Karl-Anthony Towns in a potential Giannis deal would mean a massive defensive upgrade, aligning with Brown’s early-season focus on toughness and interior presence.
### What a Trade Could Look Like
Landing Antetokounmpo would take an enormous package—likely a mix of rotation talent and long-term assets. The Milwaukee Bucks would only consider moving their two-time MVP if they decided to reset around a younger core.
The Knicks still have the pieces to make it interesting. Between key contributors like OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Jordan Clarkson, and Mikal Bridges, New York could construct a deal built on proven talent rather than draft capital.
### The Bigger Picture for the Knicks
The Knicks look poised for their best season in years. They’ve opened 2-0, dominated the glass, and looked cohesive under a coach who values effort as much as execution.
But even amid early success, the pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo represents something larger—a vision of what New York basketball could become. Giannis is more than a star; he’s a culture-changer.
For a team already built on grit and structure, his arrival would mark the beginning of something bigger—the moment when the Knicks stop climbing and start ruling.
And if that door ever opens again, New York will be ready to walk through it.
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