Miami Heat Finalize Trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo From Milwaukee Bucks

The Miami Heat finalized their trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, with the deal becoming official on Monday after being agreed to in principle June 22, ending Antetokounmpo’s 13-year run in Milwaukee.

“The Miami Heat have made one of the biggest moves in franchise history, acquiring two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo along with veteran forward Bobby Portis Jr”

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ESPN said Antetokounmpo released a video on Monday afternoon featuring a sit-down interview with longtime Bucks play-by-play announcer Jim Paschke, where he said goodbye to Milwaukee and expressed his love for the city.

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In that video, Antetokounmpo told fans, "The city of Milwaukee will always be in my heart. This is my home," while the Bucks’ statement on Monday thanked him for 13 seasons and the 2021 NBA championship.

The trade sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA draft (used to select Nate Ament), and additional future draft picks, according to ESPN and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Heat President Pat Riley called the announcement of the trade "one of the great trades in HEAT history," saying in his view, "Giannis is one of the top five players in the league and Bobby is one of the best power forwards."

Bucks general manager Jon Horst, in an open letter to fans, said, "there are few players in the history of professional sports who have elevated a franchise, a city and a fan base the way Giannis Antetokounmpo has for Milwaukee and the Bucks."

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Horst also defended the move, saying the "decision is in the best interest of both the Bucks and Giannis," while ESPN reported the Bucks thanked Antetokounmpo for transforming the franchise on the court, in the locker room, and throughout the community.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the Bucks’ co-owners Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan said, "From delivering a championship to transforming our franchise, Giannis' impact on the Milwaukee Bucks is lasting and profound."

With the Heat acquiring Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, the roster shift also reshaped Miami’s offseason focus, as Sports Illustrated pointed to Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson shining in FIBA for Serbia and Sweden.

“- Published Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined Miami Heat from the Milwaukee Bucks”

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Sports Illustrated said Serbia took down Bosnia 94-81 on Monday evening, with Nikola Jovic scoring 32 points and knocking down 7 three pointers on 9 attempts, while it noted Larsson scored 31 points in a win over Slovenia and got to the line 15 times.

In the same FIBA coverage, Sports Illustrated described Jovic as "one of the few pieces of the young core that wasn't traded to Milwaukee in the deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo," and it framed Larsson as a primary initiator and creator for his squad.

Meanwhile, Bleacher Report captured Antetokounmpo’s own framing of the change, quoting him saying, "I'm scared that maybe if I don't make that decision (to leave), that when I'm going to be 37, I'm going to say, 'Why? Why didn't you take that risk," and adding, "It's a risk."