Giannis Antetokounmpo has a new home and a star-studded supporting cast, but his goal hasn’t changed: win another NBA championship.
The two-time MVP is preparing for his first season with the Miami Heatafter ending his 13-year run with the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster July trade. Miami didn’t stop with Giannis.
The Heat also added five-time All-Star Klay Thompson and Bobby Portis to a roster that already includes Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins, giving coach Erik Spoelstra a formidable collection of veterans for another title run.
“The goal is to win a championship. That’s the goal,” Antetokounmpo said at Miami’s media day.
Miami paid heavily to land the 31-year-old superstar. The Heat sent Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, 2026 No. 13 pick Nate Ament and additional draft picks to Milwaukee in the deal that also brought Portis to Miami.
For Antetokounmpo, the biggest adjustment could be learning how to play with an entirely new team after spending his whole NBA career in Milwaukee.
“This is all new for me,” he said. “I’m trying to learn defense. I’m learning offenses. I am trying to fit in the locker room with new faces.”
Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA championship and remains confident he can dominate at 31.
“If not the best, I’m one of the best players in the world,” he said. “When I’m at my best, when I’m locked in, when my body is right, I really do believe that I can dominate the game.”
Now Spoelstra has to figure out how to maximize Giannis alongside Adebayo, Thompson, Wiggins and the rest of Miami’s revamped roster.
For the Heat, anything short of another deep playoff run would leave questions after an offseason spent building around one of basketball’s biggest stars.
