With speculation on whether Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time as a Milwaukee Buck is coming to an end, the Miami Heat have emerged as a potential landing spot for the two-time NBA MVP. And, as it turns out, Antetokounmpo isn’t against the destination.
On an episode of the podcast “Gogi’s Garage,” hosted by retired NBA player Goran Dragić, Antetokounmpo didn’t do much to confirm he planned to leave the Bucks. However, he did note an affinity for Miami, calling it “a beautiful city.”
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Antetokounmpo, who has spent his entire 13-year career with Milwaukee, told Dragić that this year was the first “real” experience he had with trade rumors. The forward said that stories on his potential departure were “everywhere” and that he was constantly stopped by fans asking him not to leave.
“I kept saying, I was like, ‘Guys, I’m here, I’m not going nowhere,’” Antetokounmpo said, saying that the rumors would continue anyway. “They wasn’t listening to what I was saying.”
Antetokounmpo said he has stayed committed to the Bucks, even through this past season. Milwaukee ended with a 32-50 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years, with head coach Doc Rivers stepping down after the season ended.
“We are loyal people. When people believe in us and people help us, and make us stand on our feet, it’s very hard for you to turn your back,” Antetokounmpo said. “But at the same time you’re competitive, you want to win. Everybody wants to win. So you’ve gotta make a better decision for yourself.”
Dragić then suggested Antetokounmpo should head somewhere warm, citing the 31-year-old’s age.
“You need warm climate, man,” Dragić said.
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“Hey, Miami’s not a bad place, man. It’s [a] beautiful, beautiful city, beautiful city,” Antetokounmpo said in response.
Dragić, for what it’s worth, spent seven seasons of his 15-year career with the Heat.
Antetokounmpo is under contract with the Bucks through 2028 after signing an extension in 2023. But Milwaukee has been hurtling toward a breaking point with its star, with Antetokounmpo reportedly asking for a trade multiple times during the disastrous 2025-26 campaign.
Antetokounmpo isn’t doing much to tamp down current speculation either: When asked this week if he had played his last game as a Buck, Antetokounmpo said he wasn’t sure.
“That’s a very good question,” Antetokounmpo told reporters after the Bucks’ last game on Sunday. “I don’t know. It’s not up to me anymore. It’s not up to me. We’ll see.”
