Giannis Antetokounmpo believes successful a championship with the Miami Warmth may ultimately transfer him into the best participant of all time dialogue, however the two-time MVP stated he’s not there but.
“The GOAT dialog? No, no, not but. But when we get the job carried out right here, perhaps in just a few years I’ll be,” Giannis stated after becoming a member of Miami following the blockbuster offseason trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 31-year-old ahead enters Miami with a resume that already locations him among the many most adorned gamers of his era. Antetokounmpo has gained two MVP awards, a Defensive Participant of the 12 months award, an NBA championship and a Finals MVP award throughout his 13 seasons within the league.
Giannis averaged 24.1 factors, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists over 895 profession video games coming into the 2026-27 season, capturing 55.4% from the sphere. His peak stretch got here from 2018-19 by 2024-25, when he averaged a minimum of 27 factors in seven consecutive seasons and earned seven All-NBA First Staff picks.
His particular person dominance reached its highest degree through the 2019-20 season, when he averaged 29.5 factors, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists whereas successful each MVP and Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He turned solely the third participant in NBA historical past to win each awards in the identical season, becoming a member of Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Nonetheless, Giannis acknowledged that the GOAT debate is constructed round sustained crew success as a lot as particular person manufacturing. Michael Jordan gained six championships, LeBron James has 4 titles, and different all-time greats comparable to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Invoice Russell constructed their circumstances by a number of championships.
Miami’s determination to amass Giannis displays the franchise’s perception that one other title run is feasible round an elite frontcourt pairing. The Warmth despatched Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three future first-round picks, a decide swap and extra draft compensation to Milwaukee for Giannis and Bobby Portis.
The transfer offers Miami a core constructed round Giannis and Bam Adebayo, two gamers who’ve earned reputations as elite two-way forces. The Warmth completed the 2025-26 common season 43-39 and reached the playoffs by the Japanese Convention play-in match earlier than reshaping the roster round Giannis.
Miami additionally retained Andrew Wiggins on a three-year, $64 million extension and added Tim Hardaway Jr. on a one-year, $6.5 million contract to enhance the capturing round its new celebrity duo. The Warmth misplaced Norman Powell, who signed with the Chicago Bulls after averaging 21.7 factors per sport in 2025-26.
For Giannis, the subsequent step is including extra championship success to his legacy. He gained his first title with Milwaukee in 2021, averaging 35.2 factors, 13.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists through the Finals in opposition to the Phoenix Suns.
