![\"Giannis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MIA_AntetokounmpoandPortispresserAGS203.JPG\" "\\"Giannis")
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Giannis Antetokounmpo (7), right, speaks speaks during a press conference with Pat Riley, President of the Miami Heat, left, and Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, not pictured, introducing Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla.<\/p>\n
Alie Skowronski<\/p>\n
It\u2019s one of the most eventful days of the Heat\u2019s offseason, and we\u2019re launching a Miami Herald live blog to commemorate it.<\/p>\n
Over a six-hour period on Thursday, there\u2019s an NBA ruling on the Bam Adebayo\/Tyler Herro altercation; introductory press conferences for new Heat players Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis; and LeBron James\u2019 first public comments (expected around 1:15 p.m. today) in a week, as he decides where to play next season.<\/p>\n
Please keep checking back for updates, which we will add at the top.<\/p>\n
Riley on Giannis<\/p>\n
Riley on Giannis: \u201cThis is a longtime coming. The city of Miami deserves it. When we spoke, I felt and heard the conviction in his voice. He talked about winning. He wants to win. He wants to win big. We\u2019re not waiting. We hope Giannis can be here for the rest of his career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Riley said GM Andy Elisburg informed him on the night of June 22 that the Bucks agreed to the deal. \u201cWe landed the plane,\u201d Riley said. \u201cNow we have another one to land…. We landed a 747.\u201d (The other plane remark seemingly was a reference to LeBron, who is reportedly considering a Heat reunion.)<\/p>\n
He said landing another star is \u201cnirvana for me. This is a part of who the Heat are. You don\u2019t win championships unless you have greatness on the floor. I\u2019m excited for this challenge. We are going to try to make the most if it. We have a lot of work to do. I\u2019m excited about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Riley also gave credit to Adebayo: \u201cBam has been the foundation of this organization. He had a lot to do because of the relationship of Giannis and convincing all of us that this is the way we should go.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also thanked general manager Adam Simon, Eric Amsler and Keith Askins and \u201cthe whole scouting staff\u201d for producing the draft picks that could be flipped for Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of upside there, and we had long discussions about it,\u201d Riley said of sending away Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and Kel\u2019el Ware in the trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to have the players and draft capital to do it, and we collected that. Once I felt we did, we almost made the deal in February. That went down in the midnight hour. I wish them nothing but the best. They\u2019re great young players. But we\u2019re about now. Giannis is about now too. It\u2019s not easy when you spend a lot of time on development. It was hard to make that decision but once you make it, you go full forward with it. We did the right thing at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a reference to Adebayo taking a swing at Tyler Herro last week, Riley cracked that he mentioned Adebayo among Heat icons because he doesn\u2019t \u201cwant to get knocked out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spoelstra on Giannis<\/p>\n
He said Pat Riley asked him, weeks ago, \u201cDo you want to coach Giannis?\u201d<\/p>\n
Spoelstra: \u201cI said yes. This is a great day for the city of Miami and organization. He\u2019s a force of will. He\u2019s a force of nature. On any given day or year, he can be the best on the planet. We have big expectations, big dreams. And you need someone like this man right here to accomplish what you want to accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n
What could Antetokounmpo and Adebayo look like as a duo? Spoelstra: \u201cThey\u2019re elite competitors. It matters to them to defend. If we are not defending the way we want to, I\u2019m sure they will let everybody know. We want to build a top flight defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giannis speaks<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI always had huge respect for the Heat organization. As players, we talk. You always hear about the Heat culture. Guys are driven. Guys are selfless. I always wondered what made them unique. With the Bucks, we tried to create that.. All that matters is winning.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he needs pressure during this stage of his career and welcomes that: \u201cWe are like minded as a team and me\u201d and said coming to Miami was \u201ca no-brainer. I wanted to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said this is the best place for him to try to win a championship.<\/p>\n
He said he walked around the city \u201cand people are very warm, excited for me to be here. All this stuff is nice. But I just love playing basketball. I was able to talk to the coaching staff [about] the way they play, what they think.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he gets eight hours sleep before competing against most players but needs 12 hours before he plays Bam Adebayo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to be on the same side with him after 10 years,\u201d Giannis said.<\/p>\n
He said he\u2019s excited that he can remain teammates with Bobby Portis: \u201cOne thing I know about him is when it\u2019s game time, he will be there. As a leader, as a teammate, you want guys like that around you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he\u2019s excited to be coached by Spoelstra and people that he trusts have told him that Spoelstra is a \u201cworkaholic, doesn\u2019t leave the gym, really dedicated to his craft, good at X\u2019s and O\u2019s. I need him to push me and tell me the truth. I want to be coached hard. I have a lot of people who approach me to make me feel good. I don\u2019t need that. I want the truth. I rather you tell me the ugly truth than a beautiful lie. I feel the moment that I\u2019m coached hard, everything will follow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giannis said that \u201cI\u2019ve accomplished a lot of things in my career, but one of my goals is to win another championship. Whenever I put my mind to something, I usually accomplish it. And this is the best route for me to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He told Riley – whom he called \u201cMr. Pat\u201d — that he\u2019s \u201ckind of scared. This is different.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said \u201cgetting the phone call from Mr. Pat, it gave me a lot of closure of now it\u2019s a new beginning. I was being vulnerable with him. \u2018I know you think I\u2019m this big, tough beast\u2019 but at the end of the day, I\u2019m human. I have my emotions and I was like, \u2018I\u2019m kind of scared. This is different. I [told him that I] have so much respect for you. When I was younger, we had a practice here, I went to your office to snoop around… to see what the great Pat Riley was about… I told him I\u2019m excited. I will work hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he appreciates the team\u2019s \u201cculture and history…. It will turn out for the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he watched James and Dwyane Wade earlier in his career and thought \u201choly [expletive], I\u2019ve got to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said his presence makes teammates\u2019 jobs \u201ceasier to execute.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he\u2019s here to \u201clisten and learn.\u201d He said he wants \u201cto leave my mark on this community.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said one thing he doesn\u2019t like about Miami are iguanas. \u201cThose things have to stay away from me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goldin signs deal<\/p>\n
As expected, center Vlad Goldin signed the two-way offer made two weeks ago. The second-year center and rookie point guard Tre Donaldson hold two of the Heat\u2019s three two-way contracts. Those contracts can be swapped out at any time.<\/p>\n
Goldin appeared in 11 games for the Heat last season while playing on a two-way deal.<\/p>\n
LeBron speaks<\/p>\n
LeBron James spoke publicly for the first time in more than a week on Thursday. But he didn\u2019t deliver the news that everyone is awaiting.<\/p>\n
During a live taping of his podcast at a Fanatics Fest event in Manhattan on Thursday, James did not reveal where he will sign next season. Nor did he give any clues.<\/p>\n
\u201cShout out my former team; I spent eight great years with the Los Angeles Lakers,\u201d James said during the taping in front of a live audience at the Javits Center. \u201cThat was an unbelievable ride and I am looking forward to what comes next as I wind down my journey. It\u2019s going to be pretty fun wherever I land.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he also said: \u201cI won\u2019t hold you guys up too much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
He asked the crowd their opinion, according to ESPN\u2019s Ramona Shelburne. After fans shout the Warriors, Heat, Philadelphia and Yankees, James laughed and said, \u201cWe\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
James also made a reference to one commentator saying the Heat would be a play-in team even with James. (James responded to that with laughing emojis on social media.)<\/p>\n
\u201cI seen something on social media that wherever I go, maybe we\u2019d be in the play in or some [expletive] like that and I\u2019m not a factor anymore,\u201d he said at the Manhattan event. \u201cThat\u2019s just a little motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was a guest on James\u2019 podcast, and when he tried to ask James about his decision on his next team, James shot back: \u201cDidn\u2019t we already talk about this in the back?\u201d Haliburton didn\u2019t press the matter: \u201cI\u2019ll leave it alone,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He wouldn\u2019t name a favorite team, mentioning former Heat, Cavaliers and Lakers teams, but said his Heat teams (2010-2014) were among his favorites. \u201cWe called ourselves the Heatles. Was an unbelievable team. Not only did we do it on the floor, but we also enjoyed each other off the floor. It was the perfect storm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked by a youngster about free agency, he said: \u201cIt\u2019s a big decision. It\u2019s the third time in my career I\u2019ve been a free agent. It\u2019s a big decision for not only myself but for my family, and where I want to spend the last few years or last year or last two years of my NBA career. Wherever I go, I will make my staple. I\u2019m a natural born leader. I\u2019m going to try to fit into whatever team I am going into, but also give them all the tools and all the knowledge I\u2019ve been able to grasp…. I know all the ins and outs about the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
James told Haliburton \u201cthe excitement has come into the Eastern Conference this offseason… JB [Jaylen Brown] going to Philly, and Giannis going down to Miami. Boston retooled, picking up Mitchell Robinson; that\u2019s going to help, Paul George. Cleveland is going to be back. You guys will be back competing. You can\u2019t forget Orlando, Detroit. And you have the New York Knicks for sure… This is the first time in a long time that coming into a preseason, the Eastern Conference will be talked about a little bit more than the Western Conference.\u201d<\/p>\n
James\u2019 focus has been on the Cavaliers, Heat and 76ers, with the Warriors and Timberwolves also in the mix, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not holding my breath on an announcement this week,\u201d ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania said.<\/p>\n
Riley, Spoelstra weigh in on Portis, trade<\/p>\n
With Anteotokounmpo and Portis, Heat president Pat Riley said that the Heat now has a \u201cvery potent power rotation that\u2019s very versatile.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regarding Portis (who was introduced at 12:30 p.m.), Riley said: \u201cThis is a longtime coming for me. I\u2019ve always loved his game. A hell of a player and we\u2019re very fortunate to have him as part of our organization. It\u2019s sort of a dream and aspiration of mine that came true.<\/p>\n
\u201cBobby is an old school player. He could have played with me with the Knicks. His game transcends any era. I could see a big front line. There\u2019s a lot of things with Wiggs [Andrew Wiggins]. It\u2019s going to begin to get better and better. I can\u2019t wait for training camp.\u201d<\/p>\n
Riley said the trade created \u201cthree weeks of anxiety\u201d because it couldn\u2019t be announced until Jan. 6. \u201cThe anxiety is over. I can finally go to Europe on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spoelstra: \u201cWe feel like we bring a physicality and edge to our frontcourt. That\u2019s something we always wanted. Everyone\u2019s always talking you need some positional size in the frontcourt. We feel we\u2019ve checked those boxes… Bobby brings a lunch pail, physical mentality. He\u2019s one of the best shooting bigs in the league. He\u2019s a low post threat, a physical rebounder and crafty in a lot of pick and roll coverages defensively.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe versatility, the toughness is something we wanted to address going into the offseason. We thought [Portis] would really be a great fit here. They say you have to adapt or die in this league. Bobby has adapted. His game fit then, [when he came into the league]. It definitely fits now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Portis said: \u201cI was born to be a Heatle. This was one of my favorite teams growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Heat will introduce Antetotkounmpo at 3 p.m., with live coverage on the Heat\u2019s YouTube page and WPLG-10.<\/p>\n
No discipline for Adebayo<\/p>\n
The NBA will not discipline Bam Adebayo (or Tyler Herro) for their altercation at a Las Vegas hotel last week, the league disclosed Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league,\u201d the league said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Adebayo reportedly took a swing at Herro last Friday because he was angry about comments that Herro made about Adebayo in a private conversation with a Heat fan on Instagram. That fan, a Toronto-based accountant, leaked the comments two weeks ago<\/a> after Herro posted a graphic displaying Adebayo\u2019s and Antetokounmpo\u2019s poor mid-range shooting.<\/p>\n According to multiple sources, Herro\u2019s anger toward Adebayo mostly stems from the Heat giving Adebayo a contract extension but bypassing one with Herro. This resentment has been simmering for a year, one player said.<\/p>\n The Heat also will not discipline Adebayo, according to a source.<\/p>\n LeBron James decision<\/p>\n Though James is scheduled to do a podcast in front of a live audience in Manhattan on Thursday afternoon, he is not expected to reveal his next team at that time, ESPN reported.<\/p>\n James remains focused on the Heat, Cleveland and Philadelphia, ESPN reported.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team that makes the most natural basketball fit to me is the Heat,\u201d ESPN\u2019s Brian Windhorst said Thursday, in a reversal of his previous expressed opinions on the matter.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he wants to go play where he\u2019d go back into the role as the ball handler, Miami has that role for him to be the primary ball handler. Because they have Bam and Giannis, they have the guys who can play the big man positions and protect him defensively. At this stage of his career he can have moments of good defense. Two weeks ago I didn\u2019t have Miami at the top, I wasn\u2019t even putting them in the top 2-3.\u201d<\/p>\n Thompson update<\/p>\n Though the Heat has targeted Klay Thompson as its shooter of choice — as we reported last week<\/a> — the Mavericks are not inclined to buy him out yet unless he forces the issue, longtime NBA writer Marc Stein reported.<\/p>\n The Mavericks instead prefer to trade him, Stein said.<\/p>\n But a trade with the Heat isn\u2019t considered particularly realistic. The Mavericks likely wouldn\u2019t have interest in taking on Nikola Jovic\u2019s four year, $62 million contract, and the Heat (which has no tradable first round picks) isn\u2019t inclined to attach draft assets to dump Jovic.<\/p>\n This could come down to whether Thompson and his agent, Greg Lawrence, push the Mavericks for a buyout sometime in the next two months. The Heat would like to sign him if he becomes available.<\/p>\n This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 12:03 PM.<\/p>\n
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