Humble superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo soaking it all in with Heat
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MIAMI — Bam Adebayo and Davion Mitchell organized a Miami Heat team bonding trip to Los Angeles in September, bringing together the returning players and newcomers, just before the start of training camp.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo, the most impactful offseason acquisition in the NBA, returned early from a trip to his home in Greece to participate. The players golfed, did some boating, played plenty of cards and had team dinners. Klay Thompson, one of those newcomers, organized a cellphone-free day to play dominoes.
"To be able to just connect … is very valuable for us as a team," said the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo, who was acquired by the Heat from the Milwaukee Bucks less than 24 hours before the start of the NBA draft in a deal that included six players and a slew of picks.
"Play some cards, maybe have a steak, have a wine. Then when it's game 67 in a cold city, let's say, it's going to be easier to go through that. Once we start facing adversity, once we start not playing well, you're going to go back to those moments. How we connected."
Heat hoping Antetokounmpo helps them realize 'big dreams'
For 13 seasons, Giannis Antetokounmpo was in a comfort zone in Milwaukee ... one of those cold cities. It wasn't easy, starting a new life in a new country about 5,500 miles from his hometown near Athens, Greece. But when he settled in, the NBA saw something it has rarely seen.
Hence, The Greek Freak.
"He is a force of will," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "On any given day, or year, he can be the best on the planet. We have big dreams and you need somebody like Giannis to accomplish that."
Antetokounmpo has small-man agility and athleticism with big-man length and domination. He has been an All-Star for the last decade. He is a two-time MVP and one of three players to be MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.
When it comes to Pat Riley's relentless drive to land that "whale," Giannis is in the same category with Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James
He is the NBA's top scorer over the last decade (28.4 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (11.2 rpg), while shooting better than 61 percent from the floor from inside the 3-point line.
And he is a champion, leading the Bucks over the Phoenix Suns in 2021, scoring 50 points in the series-clinching Game 6.
Now, he is just trying to fit in, having moved for the first time since the culture shock of going from Athens to Milwaukee as an 18-year-old.
The trip to L.A. was the first step.
"I think it's hard. Once you go to a new place you try to kind of fit in," said Antetokounmpo, who added the feeling was "still weird" early in training camp. "Try not to create a lot of friction, not to bring a lot of attention to yourself. Try to see how people operate."
But what he later said is exactly why Riley, at 81, was determined to give himself one more opportunity to add to a resume already as legendary as any in NBA history.
"I know that I thrive when I'm somewhat uncomfortable and this is all new for me," he said. "It's exciting. I'm trying to play with players that I've never played with before. I know that I'm going to put in the work.
"And the goal is to win the championship. That's the goal."
It all starts Wednesday, Oct. 21 when the Heat open the season at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Heat have zero concerns about Antetokounmpo fitting in. The move appears to be the best thing for this generational player.
Even though he became frustrated with the Bucks having become stagnant after he brought the franchise its second title in 2021 — its first in 50 years — Antetokounmpo never allowed it to impact his play. He never publicly demanded a trade or gave the franchise an ultimatum, but reports surfaced of discussions being held behind the scenes.
After all, few players were synonymous with a city like Giannis was with Milwaukee. He was beloved because of everything from his humility to the work ethic, and, of course that talent.
"Succeed or fail, I'm going to fail by working or succeed by working," he said.
"I've been a worker my whole life."
Antetokounmpo on Heat teammates: 'They move so freaking fast'
Spoelstra has carved a Hall of Fame career bringing out the best in his players. From the stars to those coming off the bench.
And with Antetokounmpo, the Heat coach has one of the league's most unique, versatile talents on both ends of the court.
"We don't want to reinvent guys. Hopefully, we can make guys better when they come into this building," Spoelstra said. "We're not wired to be bystanders.
"This guy's already been the best player in the world. We would love for him to do that again this year and create an environment and a setting where he can fully express himself to be able to do that."
Defensively, Antetokounmpo and Adebayo have the potential to be the most dominant low-post tandem in the league. And it's not just having two players who have been in the conversation for, or won, Defensive Player of the Year … but what they mean for the collective.
The two pillars in the post will make everyone else a better defensive player.
"It can be really good," Antetokounmpo said. "Defense is defense, and this group is very, very competitive. I see the way guys move."
Antetokounmpo calls Adebayo one of the best two-way players in the league. "He never takes days off," he said. "I know he doesn't take days off against me."
Every Heat practice iron is sharpening iron.
"If I guard Bam every single day at practice, I think when he goes out there and plays against anybody in the league, it won't be much harder," Antetokounmpo said. "And it goes both ways. If Bam guards me every single day, things will be easy for me when I put on this jersey and I'm going to face somebody else."
Offensively is where Antetokounmpo believes this Heat team is going to become the talk of the league. He knew this was going to be special when Heat players started playing pick-up games before training camp and the pace was unlike anything he has seen.
"I'm the last guy in the transition, which is new to me. …" Antetokounmpo said. "They move so freaking fast. It's insane. I don't know if I'm getting slower. I don't know what's going on.
"We're going to get so many easy looks. We're going to be able to get the scoreboard up to 110, 120 each night, which always gives you a chance to win."
Humble superstar Antetokounmpo wants to learn from Spoelstra
Antetokounmpo has been a sponge since his arrival in South Florida, soaking up everything he can about his new city, new organization, new team. He told The Athletic being part of a new NBA environment gave him goosebumps and was "almost like being alive again."
Giannis Antetokounmpo's dominant play on the court is a direct contrast to his unassuming personality off the court. He is not a player who will suck up all the oxygen in the room. He never would "big time" his teammates or his coaches.
It's not his personality.
And he may be one of the more coachable superstars in the league.
"I can tell he's going to push me," Antetokounmpo said about Spoelstra. "He's going to be very direct with me, his expectation of me. He's going to keep me accountable. He's going to push me. He's going to challenge me.
"I don't think I've ever gone back and forth with a coach. I'm just going to take it … and listen. He's been there. He knows what it takes to win. A guy like that ... challenges you. That means he believes in you."
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Humble superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo soaking it all in with Heat