Giannis Antetokounmpo Traded to Miami Heat in NBA Blockbuster After Months of Buzz Around Milwaukee Bucks Superstar

Kimberlee SpeakmanTue, June 23, 2026 at 3:08 PM UTC

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Giannis Antetokounmpo during a game against the Miami Heat on March 12, 2026.Credit: Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Gett -

Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat after 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, June 22, per ESPN

The Bucks reportedly received Tyler Herro, multiple players, and three first-round draft picks in the blockbuster trade

Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years in 2021

Giannis Antetokounmpo is heading to the Miami Heat.

The NBA star — who is a Bucks franchise legend after playing for the team for 13 seasons — was traded alongside his teammate Bobby Portis by the Milwaukee Bucks to the Heat on Monday night, according to ESPN.

In exchange, Miami traded Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks in the upcoming NBA drafts, including the No. 13 overall pick for the draft on Tuesday, June 23, per ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots a free throw during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 7, 2026.Credit: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty

This comes as Antetokounmpo, 31, enters the final year of his current contract with the Bucks. Six months after the trade becomes official, he will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million max extension with the Heat, per SI.

The NBA star is projected to be on the Heat's starting lineup alongside Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell, according to ESPN.

The NBA star was drafted by the Bucks in 2013 after being the 15th overall pick. With the team, he became a two-time NBA MVP and a 10-time All-Star. His impressive stats show he averaged more than 34 points and 12 rebounds per 36 minutes last season, per ESPN.

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While his team did not enter the most recent NBA finals, he did lead the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971 after defeating the Phoenix Suns in 2021. He even earned the title of 2021 NBA Finals MVP.

While Antetokounmpo has previously shared that he'd happily stick with the Bucks, according to CBS Sports, he also told the New York Times in 2023 that his main focus was securing a championship.

Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 15, 2026.Credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty

"Winning a championship comes first. I don't want to be 20 years on the same team and don't win another championship,” he told the outlet at the time.

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The Heat beat out the Boston Celtics, who also pursued a trade for Antetokounmpo. The Celtics had offered the Bucks a package centered around Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks to no avail, per CBS Sports.

Antetokounmpo will follow in the footsteps of other NBA legends who have played for the Miami Heat in the past, including Shaquille O'Neal (who helped the team win a championship in 2006) and LeBron James.

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Source: “AOL Sports”