Intern reporter Su Jiawei / Comprehensive Report
“Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat this summer, ending his 13-year tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks. During his introductory press conference, he revealed that during his first phone call with Heat President Pat Riley, he admitted he was genuinely scared. It was that conversation that allowed him to truly let go of the past and embrace a new beginning.
Antetokounmpo said he still holds great respect for the Bucks. “When it comes to the Bucks, I’m in a good place right now. I have a lot of respect for them, and I hope they respect me and everything I’ve done for that city.”
Antetokounmpo admitted that receiving Riley’s call gave him a real sense of closure. “I finally felt like I could let go. I thought, okay, this is a new start, and I showed him my vulnerable side.”
He continued, “I told him, ‘I know you guys see me as this big, strong beast, but at the end of the day, I’m human. I have emotions. I told him, I’m scared. I’m really a little scared. Everything is different, but I have great respect for you.’”
Beyond sharing his emotions, Antetokounmpo also recalled a time when he was young and trained at the Heat’s arena. He even snuck a peek around Riley’s office, curious to see where the legendary executive worked. He promised Riley that he would give his all, honor the Heat’s culture and history, and leave his own mark on the franchise.
Riley, for his part, said he could feel Antetokounmpo’s hunger for winning from their very first call. “I could hear the determination in his voice, and I heard the same goal that Erik Spoelstra, the Arison family, and I have always pursued.”
Riley added, “He talked about only one thing: winning. That phone call was about business, about winning. He wants to win, and he wants to win big. We don’t guarantee anything, but we want to win. Like Bobby Portis said this morning, our goal is a championship, and we don’t want to wait any longer.”