The New York Knicks could be in for a seismic overhaul after their unfortunate elimination from the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, and especially in the wake of head coach Tom Thibodeau’s stunning Tuesday evening dismissal.
Thibodeau’s departure after a 5-year tenure as the Knicks’ lead strategist could be just the first domino to fall in the overarching story of the franchise’s 2025 offseason, as the storied organization could very well be a destination for some of the game’s most desired trade targets.
In fact, former NBA guard and current ESPN analyst Jay Williams recently spoke on the Knicks’ chances of landing the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo through a league-altering transaction, and how it could positively affect not just the team, but specifically their superstar point guard and 2025 Clutch Player of the Year winner, Jalen Brunson.
“Throughout the longevity for Brunson’s career, due to the fact that he absorbs so much physicality, I don’t need him to carry the load every single night during the course of an 82 regular game season schedule and into the playoffs,” Williams shared during a Monday morning appearance on ESPN’s Get Up.
“I need him to remain fresh, and that’s going to help the longevity of his career.”
“A guy like Giannis can carry that load, and actually I think their games are comparable together. They work together.”
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“Now, look, you’re going to have to give up a lot of pieces and assets in order to get that, but I think in the best long-term interests of Jalen Brunson, if you want to keep him around, Giannis is the player that I think matches that and helps sustain a longer career for Brunson.”
At just 28 years old, Brunson surely has plenty of career left, but his body does take a toll throughout the course of a game.
The 6-foot-1 guard plays a bruising style thanks to his stocky build and strong frame, and Williams’ main concern is keeping the under-sized scoring phenom healthy.
This is where Antetokounmpo enters, as he’s become one of the more physically dominant and overpowering players in the entire Association throughout his 12-year NBA career.
Milwaukee’s 6-foot-11 forward and 2021 NBA Finals MVP is only 30 years old in his own right, and he’d certainly be able to take some of the responsibility of creating pressure on the rim away from Brunson for necessary stretches.
In 67 appearances for the Bucks in 2024-25, Antetokounmpo contributed an astounding 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists, earning a seventh consecutive All-NBA First Team selection and third-place finish in MVP voting.
Acquiring Antetokounmpo through trade will be an especially difficult task considering that either Karl-Anthony Towns or a package involving OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart would have to be shipped out to Milwaukee, but New York’s front office may already be bracing for change in the coming months.
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