Miami won’t finish paying the draft cost of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo until 2033. The July trade sent Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware to Milwaukee, along with three first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and a second-round pick, in exchange for Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr.
The Price of a New Chapter
Antetokounmpo said he chose Miami for a fresh challenge and believes the team can help him pursue another NBA championship. His next contract could be worth as much as $275 million over four seasons if he receives a maximum extension in the coming months.
The 6-foot-11 Greek forward spent 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. There, he earned 10 All-Star selections, nine All-NBA picks, two Most Valuable Player awards and one NBA title before the trade brought him to Miami.
"I feel like I was in my comfort zone for many years and I just wanted just a new challenge," Antetokounmpo said. Miami, he said, is an organization that will bring the best out of him. He wants to compete, help the team win games and reach the goal of winning a championship.
Antetokounmpo has averaged 24.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in his career. Eight other players have reached or are reaching those averages: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Karl Malone and Bob Pettit. Over the last 10 seasons, Antetokounmpo ranks first in total points and fourth in total rebounds.
A Star’s Work and the Team’s Bet
Injuries limited Antetokounmpo’s playing time last season. He wanted to play more and was frustrated that the Bucks took a different position, although his statistical averages haven’t declined.
He said he thought he played at a very high level when he was on the floor last year. "The first 15 games, I thought I could be in the MVP discussion," he said. He wants to play as many games as he can and be available for his teammates.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called the addition the arrival of a two-time MVP in his prime. He said Antetokounmpo’s competitive spirit is aligned with the team’s, and called it difficult to acquire a player of his caliber. Antetokounmpo chose Miami, Spoelstra said, and the team chose him.
New Heat guard Klay Thompson, a four-time champion with Golden State, said he felt lucky to be Antetokounmpo’s teammate. Thompson has played against him for many years and looks forward to building chemistry and watching him pursue another MVP-like season.
Culture, Adjustment and the Work Ahead
Antetokounmpo praised the Heat culture, which the article says Pat Riley brought in more than three decades ago and Spoelstra and others protect. He wants to be in a place that can bring the best out of him, and he’s building relationships within the organization. His adjustment, he said, is far from complete.
"I'm just trying to fit in," Antetokounmpo said. "And when I find the time to kind of be myself, I will be myself."
At the first Heat training camp session of the season, he left the floor about an hour in after sweating through his practice uniform. He changed in an adjacent room, then returned to practice. "Much better," he said before sprinting back.
Antetokounmpo speaks Greek, English and some Nigerian, and has vowed to learn Spanish. He’s come to love much of what Miami offers, with iguanas as the notable exception. The trade commits major draft assets through 2033, alongside a possible maximum extension of as much as $275 million over four seasons.