Ten-time all-star and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is heading to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade ahead of Wednesday’s (AEST) NBA Draft.
Antetokounmpo, 31, remains one of the world’s premier players and had agitated for a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks as they struggled to keep up with the league’s pace-setters.
Giannis Antetokounmpo. nna\telbra
ESPN reported that the Bucks traded the Greek superstar and Bobby Portis to the Heat for a monster package of Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Kasparas Jakučionis, three first round picks (including No. 13 in this year’s draft), one pick swap and one second round pick.
The Heat will be a leading title contender in 2026-27 if the oft-injured Antetokounmpo can stay healthy.
Miami had long been considered a front-runner – along with the Boston Celtics – in a potential Antetokounmpo trade.
The Celtics had been dangling Jaylen Brown as the centrepiece of their trade package.
It ends a wild back-and-forth in the final days of the saga, with the Bucks considering offers from both Miami and Boston for Antetokounmpo – who led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA title and was on the NBA’s 75th anniversary list of its greatest players ever.
Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points per game in the 2025-26 season.
The Heat are now poised to field a starting five of Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell.
Adebayo made history in March by scoring 83 points against the Washington Wizards.
Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat celebrates after scoring 83 points. Getty
That ranks as the second-highest single game scoring total in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game.
The Heat pulled off similar moves by landing Shaquille O’Neal in 2004 and by getting LeBron James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade in 2010.
Now, it’s Antetokounmpo’s turn to go ring chasing.
The Heat clearly believes he still has many good years left – and it’s generally presumed that by making this deal they’ll give him a massive extension later this year.