{"id":342760,"date":"2026-07-16T22:34:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T22:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/342760\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T22:34:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T22:34:25","slug":"giannis-arrives-in-miami-looking-to-follow-messis-path-to-more-titles-and-success-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/342760\/","title":{"rendered":"Giannis arrives in Miami, looking to follow Messi\u2019s path to more titles and success"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGiannis Antetokounmpo was watching Lionel Messi play in the World Cup semifinals this week, and a realization struck him.Messi, to him, is greatness. And Antetokounmpo wants to follow Messi\u2019s path.Antetokounmpo got his welcome-to-Miami ceremony Thursday at the team\u2019s arena, with a few fans chanting his name as he walked along his new home court for the first time after he got a tour of his new city.\u201cI need pressure at this time of my career,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cI think in order for me to go to the next level, I\u2019ve got to get out of my comfort zone \u2014 and I feel like Miami was the place for me to be.\u201dMessi came to Inter Miami three years ago, adding to his already copious resume by winning a couple of Major League Soccer MVP awards and another championship. Antetokounmpo has now joined him in Miami, hoping his relocation comes with the same level of success.\u201cThat\u2019s the blueprint,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cLeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, they set the blueprint and you just got to follow, right? It\u2019s hard. You have to be disciplined. You have to be dedicated to your craft, but it\u2019s there. And if you want to follow, you follow. If you don\u2019t want to follow, then you go home.\u201dAntetokounmpo got his formal Heat introduction a couple of weeks after Miami swung the trade that landed the two-time MVP along with Bobby Portis Jr. from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel\u2019el Ware, Kasparas Jaku\u010dionis and draft capital.For the Heat, it\u2019s another on a long list of superstar acquisitions made since Pat Riley arrived to take over as team president in 1995.\u201cI think this is just part of who the Heat are in the pursuit of excellence,\u201d Riley said. \u201cBut you don\u2019t win championships unless you have greatness on the court and on the bench. … I\u2019m just so excited for this challenge.\u201dAntetokounmpo entered the NBA in 2013. His career totals to date: 21,531 points, 8,882 rebounds and 4,484 assists. The point and rebound totals are both fifth best in the NBA over that span, while the assist total is 13th best \u2014 and those numbers are just part of the reason why the Heat consider him to still be one of the five best players in the league.If all that wasn\u2019t enough, has simply been a nightmare for defenses. Nobody has drawn more fouls over those 13 seasons than Antetokounmpo, which is absolute music to the ears of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.\u201cA little while ago Pat called me into his office and he looked at me,\u201d Spoelstra said. \u201cHe said, \u2018Do you want to coach Giannis?\u2019\u201dSpoelstra\u2019s no-brainer answer: \u201cYes.\u201dThe latest: Sports coverage from WPBF 25 NewsAnd then he walked out, waiting for Riley, Heat general manager Andy Elisburg and the rest of the front office to get a deal done. When Antetokounmpo arrived early Thursday morning for his first workout as a member of the Heat, Spoelstra was waiting for him.\u201cI just want to be coached hard,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cI\u2019d rather you tell me the ugly truth than a beautiful lie. … I\u2019m excited to be coached by him.\u201dAntetokounmpo\u2019s run in Milwaukee ended with him having, by far, the most points in franchise history, more than 7,000 ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar\u2019s total during his tenure with the Bucks. Antetokounmpo is also Milwaukee\u2019s all-time leader in rebounds and assists, plus he ranks second on the team\u2019s career list in steals.Get the latest sports updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.He had a ton of success there. He\u2019s looking for more success in Miami, which is one of the reasons why Portis felt like the Heat were the best place for him as well.\u201cThe conversations I have with Giannis have always been about winning. \u2018Where can we go to win? How can we impact winning? How can you get another \u2019chip? That\u2019s always been the talk,\u2019\u201d Portis said during his introductory news conference earlier Thursday. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t been about anything else but winning. … All he cares about is winning.\u201dBy all accounts, the Giannis-in-Miami era is off to the right start.Antetokounmpo was thrilled by the welcome he and his wife got when their plane landed in Miami after watching Messi and Argentina beat England in Atlanta on Wednesday. He says he already loves the Miami weather (\u201cwarmer than Milwaukee,\u201d he said) and isn\u2019t a fan of iguanas, which are everywhere in South Florida (\u201cthose guys, stay away from me,\u201d he said).Riley told him the Heat are looking to win and win big. That was all Antetokounmpo needed to really hear. He has one ring. He wants more.\u201cYou\u2019ve got to work,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cThey show you, they show you the way. It\u2019s not hard. Just listen and open your eyes. It\u2019s something that I wanted. I was able to accomplish it once in my career. Hopefully, it will happen a second time.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tMIAMI \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Giannis Antetokounmpo was watching Lionel Messi play in the World Cup semifinals this week, and a realization struck him.<\/p>\n

Messi, to him, is greatness. And Antetokounmpo wants to follow Messi\u2019s path.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo got his welcome-to-Miami ceremony Thursday at the team\u2019s arena, with a few fans chanting his name as he walked along his new home court for the first time after he got a tour of his new city.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"MIAMI,<\/p>\n

\n\t\tGetty ImagesMegan Briggs\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMIAMI, FLORIDA – JULY 16: Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cI need pressure at this time of my career,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cI think in order for me to go to the next level, I\u2019ve got to get out of my comfort zone \u2014 and I feel like Miami was the place for me to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Messi came to Inter Miami three years ago, adding to his already copious resume by winning a couple of Major League Soccer MVP awards and another championship. Antetokounmpo has now joined him in Miami, hoping his relocation comes with the same level of success.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the blueprint,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cLeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, they set the blueprint and you just got to follow, right? It\u2019s hard. You have to be disciplined. You have to be dedicated to your craft, but it\u2019s there. And if you want to follow, you follow. If you don\u2019t want to follow, then you go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\"MIAMI,<\/p>\n

\n\t\tGetty ImagesMegan Briggs\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMIAMI, FLORIDA – JULY 16: Miami Heat President Pat Riley (L) and head coach Erik Spoelstra (R) pose for a photo with Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo got his formal Heat introduction a couple of weeks after Miami swung the trade that landed the two-time MVP along with Bobby Portis Jr. from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel\u2019el Ware, Kasparas Jaku\u010dionis and draft capital.<\/p>\n

For the Heat, it\u2019s another on a long list of superstar acquisitions made since Pat Riley arrived to take over as team president in 1995.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this is just part of who the Heat are in the pursuit of excellence,\u201d Riley said. \u201cBut you don\u2019t win championships unless you have greatness on the court and on the bench. … I\u2019m just so excited for this challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo entered the NBA in 2013. His career totals to date: 21,531 points, 8,882 rebounds and 4,484 assists. The point and rebound totals are both fifth best in the NBA over that span, while the assist total is 13th best \u2014 and those numbers are just part of the reason why the Heat consider him to still be one of the five best players in the league.<\/p>\n

If all that wasn\u2019t enough, has simply been a nightmare for defenses. Nobody has drawn more fouls over those 13 seasons than Antetokounmpo, which is absolute music to the ears of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.<\/p>\n

\u201cA little while ago Pat called me into his office and he looked at me,\u201d Spoelstra said. \u201cHe said, \u2018Do you want to coach Giannis?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Spoelstra\u2019s no-brainer answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The latest: Sports coverage from WPBF 25 News<\/a><\/p>\n

And then he walked out, waiting for Riley, Heat general manager Andy Elisburg and the rest of the front office to get a deal done. When Antetokounmpo arrived early Thursday morning for his first workout as a member of the Heat, Spoelstra was waiting for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to be coached hard,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cI\u2019d rather you tell me the ugly truth than a beautiful lie. … I\u2019m excited to be coached by him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo\u2019s run in Milwaukee ended with him having, by far, the most points in franchise history, more than 7,000 ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar\u2019s total during his tenure with the Bucks. Antetokounmpo is also Milwaukee\u2019s all-time leader in rebounds and assists<\/a>, plus he ranks second on the team\u2019s career list in steals.<\/p>\n

Get the latest sports updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"MIAMI,<\/p>\n

\n\t\tGetty ImagesMegan Briggs\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMIAMI, FLORIDA – JULY 16: Bobby Portis #95 of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

He had a ton of success there. He\u2019s looking for more success in Miami, which is one of the reasons why Portis felt like the Heat were the best place for him as well.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"MIAMI,<\/p>\n

\n\t\tGetty ImagesMegan Briggs\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMIAMI, FLORIDA – JULY 16: Miami Heat President Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra pose for a photo with Bobby Portis #95 of the Miami Heat during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe conversations I have with Giannis have always been about winning. \u2018Where can we go to win? How can we impact winning? How can you get another \u2019chip? That\u2019s always been the talk,\u2019\u201d Portis said during his introductory news conference earlier Thursday. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t been about anything else but winning. … All he cares about is winning.\u201d<\/p>\n

By all accounts, the Giannis-in-Miami era is off to the right start.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo was thrilled by the welcome he and his wife got when their plane landed in Miami after watching Messi and Argentina beat England in Atlanta on Wednesday. He says he already loves the Miami weather (\u201cwarmer than Milwaukee,\u201d he said) and isn\u2019t a fan of iguanas, which are everywhere in South Florida (\u201cthose guys, stay away from me,\u201d he said).<\/p>\n

Riley told him the Heat are looking to win and win big. That was all Antetokounmpo needed to really hear. He has one ring. He wants more.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to work,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cThey show you, they show you the way. It\u2019s not hard. Just listen and open your eyes. It\u2019s something that I wanted. I was able to accomplish it once in my career. Hopefully, it will happen a second time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Giannis Antetokounmpo was watching Lionel Messi play in the World Cup semifinals this week, and a realization struck…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":342761,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[24675,140629,38421,140626,1454,140627,14236,123,125,124,35702,5845,35781,14202,13344,76932,140628,30234,11273],"class_list":["post-342760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-assist","tag-career-total","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-giannis-arrives-in-miami","tag-heat","tag-looking-to-follow-messis-path-to-more-titles-and-success","tag-messi","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news","tag-milwaukee","tag-milwaukee-bucks","tag-path","tag-point","tag-rebound","tag-riley","tag-spoelstra","tag-success","tag-team"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=342760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/342761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=342760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=342760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=342760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}