Giannis Antetokounmpo bids farewell to Milwaukee Bucks as Miami Heat move confirmed

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/milwaukee-bucks/QTBEW6rC/"]Bucks[/a], who led by the Greek superstar won the 2021 NBA crown to snap a 50-year title drought, agreed last month on a deal to send [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antetokounmpo-giannis/zw2Tm2a1/"]Antetokounmpo[/a] to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/miami-heat/CQ7AXnT5/"]Miami[/a].[/p][p]The trade, which under NBA rules could not be made official until Monday, sent Antetokounmpo and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/portis-bobby/SWIo11NN/"]Bobby Portis[/a] to Miami for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/herro-tyler/vexEQBs9/"]Tyler Herro[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ware-kel-el/WYLxT69l/"]Kel'el Ware[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jaquez-jr-jaime/G0EKVsjG/"]Jaime Jaquez Jr.[/a]., [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jakucionis-kasparas/2ZJIpYBt/"]Kasparas Jakucionis[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/williams-nate/IBVJU9qJ/"]Nate Ament[/a] and four future draft picks.[/p][embed guid="cc173cad-ef2a-493c-9354-fd60a1eda403" url="https://x.com/MiamiHEAT/status/2074180581626196102" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]I want you to hear it from my mouth[/b]," Antetokounmpo said in the video. "[b]The city of Milwaukee will always be in my heart. This is my home and this is a place that I had my kids. My mom is here. My father is here. My brothers played here[/b].[/p][p]"[b]It made me the man I am today. That will never, ever change. No matter where I am, Milwaukee will alwys be my city, my team, my family[/b]."[/p][p]Antetokounmpo, 31, played 13 seasons for the Bucks, who selected him 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft.[/p][p]The 10-time NBA All-Star was the 2019 and 2020 NBA Most Valuable Player and the 2021 NBA Finals MVP and averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocked shots and 1.1 steals a game.[/p][p]"[b]I want them to remember this from me[/b]," the Greek star said. "[b]Don't worry about the basket. Don't worry about the championship. Don't worry about the winnings. Don't worry about the losses[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I try to be like them[/b]."[/p][p]Antetokounmpo posted highlights of his years with the Bucks, including celebrating the title with a huge crowd and saying he wanted a selfie video so he could remember the day for the rest of his life.[/p][embed guid="11e9cc90-d389-46e4-8cbd-4949d4e06fe4" url="https://x.com/Giannis_An34/status/2074173170110640141" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]I believe the city of Milwaukee is blue collar. It's people that work extremely hard every single day[/b]," he said. "[b]They give all their hard-earned money just to come watch the Milwaukee Bucks, to come feel something, to be a part of us[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I hope I was able to represent them the best that I could and that I was like them. I showed up to work, did everything I was willing to do, all the dirty work. Just like them[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I hope that bringing a trophy to the city meant something to them because it meant so much to me[/b]."[/p][h2]'The driving force'[/h2][p]Bucks general manager Jon Horst, in an open letter to fans, paid tribute to Antetokounmpo, saying "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.[/p][p]"[b]He became one of the greatest players in basketball history, the heart of our organisation and the driving force behind an extraordinary era of Bucks basketball that will always be honoured[/b]."[/p][p]Horst also defended the trade, saying the "decision is in the best interest of both the Bucks and Giannis.[/p][p]"[b]I understand the emotions this news brings, and I share them. I'm confident our path forward provides a strong foundation for sustained success[/b]."[/p]