The New York Knicks are having themselves a season. With a record of 51-28, they have already locked in a playoff spot. We can say that things are going well in New York, but NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith thinks they could be doing even more.
Stephen A. Smith’s Recent Request to the New York Knicks
In a recent episode of “First Take,” Smith made a bold suggestion. It was that the Knicks should trade almost anyone this summer to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to Madison Square Garden. Almost anyone, except one man.
“It’s not like the New York Knicks have given up a whole bunch of stuff before… Here we go… Let me tell you who you give up for Giannis, everybody but Jalen Brunson,” Smith said on the show.
“Let me tell you who you give up for Giannis, everybody but Jalen Brunson.”
—@stephenasmith on what he wants the Knicks to do to get Giannis 🏀 pic.twitter.com/SB1MgayMoh
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 7, 2026
Smith was clear that Brunson should stay put no matter what, and honestly, that makes a lot of sense.
Brunson signed a four-year, $156.5 million veteran contract extension with the Knicks in 2024 and is set to earn a base salary of $34.94 million this season. He has backed up every dollar of that deal. Right now, he is averaging 26.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, and is leading New York’s offense.
Apart from Brunson, the Knicks are also getting solid contributions from Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, who are averaging 20.1 and 17.0 points per game, respectively. It is a well-built team that is performing.
So why would Smith push for a massive shakeup when things are already working?
The answer starts back in November. ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhorst reported that Antetokounmpo had shown interest in a potential trade to the Knicks during the offseason.
Shortly after that, ESPN’s Shams Charania followed up with a report saying the mood inside the Bucks locker room over the trade rumors was anything but calm.
“They are 10-15 right now. Conversations are active and open. As of last week, between Giannis, his agent Alex Saratsis, and the Milwaukee Bucks. My understanding is the locker room can feel the tension at play here,” Charania said during a recent ESPN segment.
From that point on, New York has been the name most closely linked to a potential Antetokounmpo move. Before the February 5 trade deadline, the Bucks made their position clear. The “Greek Freak” would not be traded during the season.
Any serious conversations would have to wait until summer. That lines up exactly with what Smith is now suggesting the Knicks should prepare for. Moreover, the reason to pursue Antetokounmpo is not particularly complicated. He is a two-time MVP. Having him on your team is a big upgrade by any measure.
Meanwhile, things in Milwaukee have not gone to plan this year. The Bucks currently have a 31-47 record and will not even make the play-in tournament. Antetokounmpo himself has had a rough ride.
He has missed the last 11 games after sustaining a left knee hyperextension and a significant bone bruise in a game against the Indiana Pacers on March 15. Before going down, he was averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. In total, he has missed 44 games for Milwaukee this season till now.
Now it remains to be seen how far the Knicks can go in this year’s playoffs. But the bigger question heading into the summer is whether they will actually make a serious push for Antetokounmpo.
