Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks earned a strong 121-111 win over the New York Knicks, powered by Antetokounmpo’s dominant performance of 37 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
During the third quarter, after a Knicks timeout, the Bucks star turned toward the crowd and shouted, “This is my city,” while heading to the bench – a statement that underscored both his intensity and confidence.
The game carried an extra layer of intrigue since it was Antetokounmpo’s first meeting with the Knicks following an October report suggesting he had shown some interest in joining New York if the Bucks ever decided to trade him. When asked about that rumor, he quickly dismissed it.
“Who said that?” he responded. “I don’t read that. I don’t remember that. Right now, I’m here representing my team. And that’s it. We beat the Knicks. That’s all. Doesn’t really matter. What matters is we have a game in two days against Golden State. Try to stay locked in and get two in a row. But I didn’t read that article. I try to stay away from all that rumors – what do you call it? Speculation, trades and all this. It doesn’t concern me one bit. I try to involve myself (in my play) and I try to win games.”
When pressed on whether the matchup had any extra motivation for him, Antetokounmpo acknowledged it did – but not for the reasons tied to the rumors.
“For sure. There was a lot extra. They swept us last year. Swept us,” he said, emphasizing how that stuck with him. “They were way better than us last year. And we didn’t make it tough for them. It was very easy, in my opinion. And as the leader of this team, I remember. I don’t forget things.
“And I try to – from early at shootaround – set the tone for the team and try to remind them, ‘Last year, they swept us. Same as the Cavs.’ So, I think the team responded in the best way. So I’m happy.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo Drops 'This Is My City' In Win At Home Against Knicks https://t.co/wweQ0xIzeC
— RealGM (@RealGM) October 29, 2025
