Giannis Antetokounmpo is just over a year away from becoming a free agent. While the league’s current situation has everything in flux, one team that would love to have Giannis may have already hurt their chances.
The Knicks drafted Giannis’ brother Thanasis in the second round in 2013, but did not give him much of a chance. Thanasis played in just two games for the Knicks and has since moved on to play with his brother in Milwaukee.
Marc Berman of the New York Post summarized some of the comments Giannis and his inner circle have made on how the Knicks treated Thanasis. In 2015, the Knicks failed to call Thanasis up for a game against the Bucks in London, prompting Giannis to say he was “a little disappointed.” In addition, Giorgos Panou, one of Giannis’ agents, remarked last season that the Knicks were the only team not to send a scout to see Giannis in Greece. The Knicks have denied that claim.
Giannis also had some issues with a former Knicks forward, but he’s not there anymore.
For this to matter, you’d have to think the Knicks ever had a shot at Giannis to begin with. The team isn’t close to contention and looks poorly-run to most in the NBA, which could scare him off either way. He’s also said he’d like to play with his brothers. That’s already unlikely, but if Giannis really wants to make it happen, it probably won’t be happening in New York given the experience Thanasis had there.
