Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting ready for his first season with the Miami Heat after spending his entire NBA career in Milwaukee. The change means stepping into a franchise with a different history, something the two-time MVP acknowledged while discussing what he wants from his time in Miami.
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“It’s kind of hard. I’ve never been a part of something like this. Obviously, Milwaukee has a great history. Great players played before me. But here is a whole different story. We won a lot of championships. All-time great players, from D-Wade, LeBron, Chris Bosh, Alonzo Mourning, Shaq. You can go down the line,” Antetokounmpo said.
The post was shared by Five Reasons Sports, captioned, ‘Giannis spoke for 14 minutes. This clip was interesting.’ In it, Antetokounmpo reflected on the championship legacy he’s now stepping into.
Antetokounmpo now joins that history after Miami acquired him in a blockbuster trade this past offseason. The Heat have won three championships since 2006. Dwyane Wade was part of all three, while LeBron James and Chris Bosh helped Miami win back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal were part of the 2006 championship team.
Antetokounmpo wasn’t looking too far ahead when asked about his plans with the Heat. Instead, he spoke about the kind of experience he wants to have while he’s in Miami.
“But I just want to leave my mark. I just want to leave my mark, man. I want to know when this chapter is over, I’m going to be here for a year or two, whatever it’s going to be, I want to leave my mark. I want to know that I have great relations with my coaches, my teammates, with the fans,” he said.
There was no specific timeline attached to those comments. Antetokounmpo mentioned that he could be in Miami for “a year or two, whatever it’s going to be,” while putting more emphasis on the people around him than on how long the stay might last.
He also looked back at what he accomplished in Milwaukee before moving on to his new challenge.
“That’s all. I think I did everything that I played before, and I hope I do it here,” Antetokounmpo said.
Antetokounmpo spent 13 seasons with the Bucks after they selected him in the 2013 NBA Draft. During that run, he developed into a two-time MVP and helped Milwaukee win the 2021 championship, ending the franchise’s 50-year wait for another title.
That championship run also produced one of the defining performances of his career. Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns, securing the title and earning Finals MVP honors.
Now, he enters his 14th NBA season wearing a different uniform for the first time. He will also have a new group of teammates and a new environment after more than a decade in Milwaukee.
For Antetokounmpo, though, the first priority appears to be settling into that environment and building relationships within the organization. His comments give a simple picture of what he wants from the move: make an impact, connect with the people around him and see what he can build in Miami.