Knicks draft pick turns down $525K in Europe to play in D-League

Thanasis Antetokounmpo was offered $550,000 to play in the Italian League, but the Knicks prospect turned it down to play for New York's D-League team in Westchester, much to the surprise of his agent.

"Amazing isn’t it?" Tim Lotsos told The New York Post on Monday. "To my surprise, he passed on it. He's very ambitious and determined to make the NBA."

The Knicks selected Antetokounmpo, whose brother Giannis already plays in the NBA, 51st overall in June, but have not signed him to an NBA contract. He will earn the D-League maximum of $25,000 with the Westchester Knicks.

Lotsos credits Knicks president Phil Jackson with convincing Antetokounmpo to stay in North America even though he won't be on New York's 15-man roster this season.

"He spoke with Steve Mills and Phil Jackson," Lotsos said. "He felt he's in their plans in the future. They don't have room for him on the roster, but they supported the idea of keeping [him] within the system and working and improving. He felt they do have a plan for him but they didn't guarantee anything for next year."

Following a turbulent summer league performance where he committed eight fouls, Jackson joked Antetokounmpo should change his first name from Thanasis to "Tenacious."