Report: Knicks are targeting Giannis Antetokounmpo’s former co-star

The New York Knicks are doing everything that they can to position themselves for The Greek Freak.

New York is eyeing Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported to his Substack page this week. Stein notes that the Knicks have already explored pathways to try to acquire Holiday via trade.

The Knicks’ interest in Holiday is said to be coming from two different angles — because they would like to make themselves an even more attractive options for Giannis Antetokounmpo and also because they have a longstanding interest in Holiday as a complement to Jalen Brunson in the backcourt. You can read Stein’s complete report on the situation here.

Holiday, a six-time All-Defensive selection at 35 years old, is averaging 15.3 points and 6.9 assists per game this season for the Blazers. He has appeared in just 19 total games though as he recently came back from a 27-game absence due to a calf injury.

Notably, Holiday (who is now in Year 2 of a four-year, $134.4 million contract) used to be teammates with Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks from 2020-23. Holiday played a co-starring role to Antetokounmpo, making an All-Star team in 2023 after helping Antetokounmpo and the Bucks win the NBA championship in 2021.

The former MVP Antetokounmpo is very unhappy with the Bucks right now and was recently even said to be most interested in the Knicks of all potential destinations. While adding both Holiday and Antetokounmpo would likely require parting ways with at least two of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby, it appears that New York is extremely interested in that very possibility.