Antetokounmpo bids – Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 13-season run with Milwaukee officially ended Monday after the NBA approved his trade to Miami. The Bucks sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis and draft capi
MIAMI — Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t wait for the first handshake in Miami. Before he ever steps into his new building, he had to close the door on the one where he spent 13 seasons.
On Monday, the NBA approved the trade sending Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis and draft capital. Antetokounmpo plans to arrive in Miami in a few days to start his Heat era.
In a video message posted Monday on social media, Antetokounmpo made the emotional job first. He promised Milwaukee would stay with him no matter how far his journey stretches.
“I want you to hear from my mouth, the city of Milwaukee will always be in my heart,” Antetokounmpo said. “This is my home, and this is a place that I had my kids. … It made me the man that I am today. That will never ever change. No matter where I am, Milwaukee will always be my city, my team, my family.”.
His farewell isn’t just sentiment. It matches what he did there. Antetokounmpo leaves Milwaukee with 21. 531 points — the most in franchise history. more than 7. 000 ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s total during his tenure with the Bucks. He’s also the Bucks’ all-time leader in rebounds and assists. and he ranks second on the team’s career list in steals.
And just like that, the story flips to Miami, a franchise that has been chasing title contention and paid a heavy price to land him.
“The announcement of today’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. is one of the great trades in Heat history,” Miami President Pat Riley said. “In my opinion. Giannis is one of the top five players in the league and Bobby is one of the best power forwards. The difficult part is trading Tyler, Kasparas, Jaime and Kel’el, who have given so much to this organization. We wish them nothing but the best.”.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, framed the move as something meant to serve everyone involved. Bucks general manager Jon Horst released a statement saying the trade was in the best interest of everyone involved, and then shifted into the kind of praise that follows a franchise cornerstone.
“Since we drafted him in 2013. Giannis has transformed the Milwaukee Bucks in every way — on the court. in our locker room and throughout the community. ” Horst said. “Over 13 seasons. he became an extraordinary leader. teammate and representative of this city. and one of the defining players of his generation. The standard he set will continue here.”.
For Antetokounmpo, the defining chapter in Milwaukee was the 2021 NBA title. In the Bucks’ title-clinching Game 6 victory over Phoenix, Antetokounmpo scored 50 points and earned NBA Finals MVP honours in a landslide.
Monday’s message returned to that night, and to the people who packed the arena hoping for something to finally break. Antetokounmpo said then, and reiterated Monday, that Bucks fans deserved the moment.
“I believe the city of Milwaukee is blue collar,” he said in the video. “It’s people that work extremely hard every single day. They give all their hard-earned money just to come watch the Milwaukee Bucks, to come and feel something, to come and be a part of us.
“I hope that I was able to represent them the best that I could. And I was like them. I showed up to work, did everything. I was willing to do all the dirty work, just like them. I hope that bringing a trophy to this city meant something to them, because it meant so much to me.”
Between the stats and the trophy. between Riley’s praise and Horst’s explanation. the trade approval on Monday didn’t just change uniforms. It closed a long. unusually personal chapter for a player who built his legacy in Milwaukee. and now arrives in Miami with the same promise: Milwaukee will always be home.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks Heat Bobby Portis Tyler Herro Jaime Jaquez Jr. Kel'el Ware Kasparas Jakucionis trade approved NBA Pat Riley Jon Horst