With his trade to the Miami Heat becoming official Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo released a tribute video to the city for which he played his first 13 seasons of NBA basketball.
The former Milwaukee forward posted the video on social media and it featured highlights from his Bucks career, including his selection by the team on draft day in 2013 and the team’s second NBA championship in 2021.
In the video, Antetokounmpo addressed the city of Milwaukee and Bucks fans directly rather than the Bucks franchise itself.
“I believe the city of Milwaukee is blue collar,” Antetokounmpo said. “Its people that work extremely hard every single day and give all their hard-earned money just to watch the Milwaukee Bucks. …
“I hope that I was able to represent them the best that I could. And I was like them. I showed up to work, did everything that I was willing to do, all the dirty work. Just like them.”
Antetokounmpo went on to address his ties to Milwaukee that he says make the city his home.
“I want you to hear it from my mouth,” Antetokounmpo continued. “The city of Milwaukee will always be in my heart. This is my home.
“This is a place that I had my kids. My mom is here. My father is here. My brothers played here. It made me the man that I am today. That will never ever change.”
Bucks general manager Jon Horst, meanwhile, released a statement addressing the trade that he described as “in the best interest of both the Bucks and Giannis.”
“There are few players in the history of professional sports who have elevated a franchise, a city and a fan base the way Antetokounmpo has for Milwaukee and the Bucks,” Horst wrote. … “On behalf of our entire organization, please joins us in expressing our deepest gratitude to Giannis and his family.”
Can Bucks fans forgive Giannis and embrace him again?
Antetokounmpo’s message is heartfelt. And Horst’s gratitude for Antetokounmpo is certainly sincere. Whether or not Bucks fans are ready to hear either is another story.
Things got tense and eventually untenable between the Bucks and Antetokounmpo before the June trade that sent him to the Heat in a deal that triggered a rebuild in Milwaukee and signaled the end to one of the best eras in Bucks history.
That tension spilled over between fans and Antetokounmpo in January when Antetokounmpo responded to boos from the home crowd in Milwaukee with two thumbs down and boos right back.
By that point, rumors of Antetokounmpo’s anticipated exit had long lingered, and the goodwill of Antetokounmpo’s remarkable career with the Bucks had taken a backseat.
Now that Antetokounmpo is gone to a rival via a trade that he reportedly pushed for, fans in Milwaukee could be forgiven for not being ready to celebrate Antetokounmpo’s relationship with the city. Antetokounmpo should not expect a warm welcome when the Heat first visit Milwaukee next season.
But given time, expect Milwaukee to come around. The 13 years that the city and Antetokounmpo shared featured two MVP seasons and an NBA championship that can’t be taken away.
It won’t be next season or likely any in the near future. But at some point, with time and healing, Milwaukee will surely be ready to embrace Antetokounmpo again.
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