John Starks has poured cold water on growing speculation linking Giannis Antetokounmpo with a move to the New York Knicks .
The former Knicks star does not believe the blockbuster switch will happen, despite increasing noise around Giannis' future.
Antetokounmpo is approaching the final stage of his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks , prompting widespread interest across the league.
New York has emerged as one of several potential destinations.
However, Starks sees the situation very differently.
Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald
Starks made his stance clear when asked about the possibility in an interview with Front Office Sports.
"Giannis is not coming. He's not coming. To be honest with you, I'm not sure if he was going to leave Milwaukee, because he's such a loyal individual and I respect that about him, because he could have left any time before they won the championship," he began by saying.
"He said, 'No, just give me some players, put around me and I'll bring you a championship,' and he delivered on his promise. I respect players like that. You don't want to see guys jumping from team to team.
"New York is the greatest city ever when you win it, but if you ain't winning it, it could be a tough city for you. I think everybody wants to be in a big market. Giannis definitely wants to be in a big market, obviously, but you have to win too on top of that."
Starks' view centres on loyalty and pressure.
He believes Antetokounmpo values stability over market size, while New York offers exposure, but also scrutiny.
That balance may not appeal to a player who has already delivered a title in Milwaukee.
On the other hand, the Knicks appear to be a straightforward choice over the Bucks in competitive terms. They are third in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Bucks sit 11th in the East.
Should Antetokounmpo target a short-term trophy, it would not make sense to rule out a move to New York.
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