Charles Barkley Slams ‘Entitled’ Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Interest in Joining Knicks

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the subject of several trade rumors throughout the offseason with a number of teams showing interest.

Charles Barkley Slams ‘Entitled’ Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Interest in Joining Knicks

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Charles Barkley (Image via FirstSportz)

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Charles Barkley has seen it all in the 4+ decades he has been playing and covering the NBA. As he is about to start covering the 2025-26 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo has become a point of conversation.

Trade rumors surrounding the Greek Freak started as soon as the Milwaukee Bucks’ season ended. His stroll around Brooklyn and New York suggested that he and his family were angling for a move to the Big Apple.

Then those rumors seemingly died down when no other information came through. Then, this week, it was revealed that the 2-time league MVP wanted to move to the Knicks.

Discussions started between the two franchises, but nothing came about it. When Charles Barkley was speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, the host’s wife, Suzy Shuster, asked the Hall of Famer what he thought about this latest revelation.

These guys, they feel like they’re entitled to play for the championship every year. As a great player, you’ve got to think, ‘I’m a great player, If I get any help, we’re going to win.’… Everybody wants to win a championship, but the Bucks have done everything they possibly could.

Charles Barkley said

The former league MVP believes the Milwaukee Bucks have done more than enough to support Giannis Antetokounmpo. He wishes someone or a team would love him as much.

To get all that support and then to say that he wants to move to win a championship elsewhere seemed like a weak move to Barkley. He would have preferred if the Greek national could stay and try to win as any great player would do.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reverses his opinion on Bucks

When news of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s interest in the Knicks came to the fore, it was also revealed that the superstar was not sure about the state of the Milwaukee Bucks roster.

When reporters caught up with the former Defensive Player of the Year, they asked him about the trade rumors and his opinions about the current state of the Bucks roster.

We’re a young team. With my actions and with my words, I just gotta keep validating to those guys that we’re here to do something special, we’re here to learn, here to play hard. We’re here to compete. I’m here, and there’s nothing else that matters.

Giannis Antetokounmpo replied

The 6′ 11″ star then talked about how he met with European teams, FC Barcelona and PSG. But that does not mean he is in trade talks with them. He reaffirmed his commitment to the Bucks and believes with the right motivation, they can win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo claims Bucks are his team

Giannis Antetokounmpo knows that any lingering conversations about his interest in moving away from the Milwaukee Bucks will likely impact the locker room and the franchise. Keeping that in mind, he said this to reporters:

I’ve said this many times, I want to be in situations that I can win. Now I’m here. I believe in this team, I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go. It’s definitely going to be hard.

Giannis Antetokounmpo said
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his teammates
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his teammates (Image via Milwaukee Bucks/X)

With these words, it seems the 30-year-old is making it clear that he will lead his team into next season with the hopes of making something out of it. If he can will them to do better than last time, all the offseason noise will be put to bed.

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