The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo if he opts out

The rumors regarding Giannis' upcoming contract status are only just beginning.

© Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

As his future contract situation plays out, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will be in the hot seat for quite some time. Although the two-time MVP is signed for two more years, he put the franchise on notice by saying that he’ll wait and see what the team looks like and how it’ll perform under new head coach Adrian Griffin before making any future commitments.

Rumors have started swirling, and it seems that the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers are both expressing interest in acquiring the highly talented "Greek Freak."

Big market cities

Giannis has made it clear how committed he is to winning NBA championships, and that is the metric he’ll use to decide if he wants to opt out of his contract with the Bucks. While Milwaukee has all the pieces for success, it may be hard to compete with the bright lights and big markets of New York or Los Angeles.

Renowned NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Knicks and the Lakers “are already being mentioned as franchises presumed to interest” Giannis if he ever decides to opt out of his deal in 2025.

Challenge to keep the core

The Bucks have signed its core players like Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton to deals that align with Giannis’. With the team now considered one of the oldest in the entire league, it’s safe to presume that the Bucks’ title window is closing fast. It’s up to the Bucks to keep the roster stocked with players who can help the franchise compete for NBA titles year in and out or risk losing the biggest star the city has ever had since the days of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.