MIAMI (AP) — As Giannis Antetokounmpo prepares to embark on a new chapter with Miami, he leaves behind a rich legacy in Milwaukee. The NBA officially confirmed on Monday the trade that sends Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat, with Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, and future draft picks heading to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Antetokounmpo, who spent 13 seasons with the Bucks, expressed his sentiments about Milwaukee in a heartfelt video message shared on social media. “I want you to hear from my mouth, the city of Milwaukee will always be in my heart,” said the two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star. “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.”
During his tenure with the Bucks, Antetokounmpo scored 21,531 points, becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record by over 7,000 points. He also holds Milwaukee’s records for rebounds and assists and ranks second in steals. His remarkable journey in Milwaukee reached its peak with a 2021 NBA Championship, where he delivered a stellar 50-point performance in the deciding game against Phoenix, earning the NBA Finals MVP title.
Miami Heat President Pat Riley hailed the acquisition of Antetokounmpo and Portis as a monumental moment for the team. “The announcement of today’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. is one of the great trades in Heat history,” Riley stated. “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.”
Bucks General Manager Jon Horst also reflected on the trade, recognizing its significance for all parties involved. He praised Antetokounmpo’s contributions, saying, “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. 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.”
Antetokounmpo’s connection to Milwaukee’s spirit was evident in his farewell message. He acknowledged the city’s hardworking ethos, stating, “I believe the city of Milwaukee is blue collar. 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, to 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.”
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