After spending his entire NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to Miami this summer, Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting his first real taste of the organization’s famous “Heat Culture” during training camp.
And so far, he’s completely bought in.
When asked whether Heat Culture is actually real, Antetokounmpo pointed to the togetherness, communication and seriousness he has experienced since arriving in Miami, according to The Athletic.
“Togetherness. How serious they are. Communication,” Antetokounmpo said. “Yesterday, we had a meeting. It was probably one of the most exciting, entertaining meetings. There were two Navy SEALs, and they were telling their story, and we were doing push-ups and shit. It’s real, and I love every f—ing second of it. I’m not even gonna lie. It gives me goosebumps. It’s almost like being alive again.”
The 31-year-old is entering a completely new environment after years in Milwaukee, where he won a championship in 2021 alongside a veteran core featuring Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez.
Giannis said the dynamic with those Bucks teams was different. The veterans knew what was expected of them and didn’t necessarily need to spend the entire offseason together preparing for the season.
“Brook (Lopez) is not showing up a month early. Khris (Middleton) is not showing up a month early. Jrue (Holiday) is not showing up a month early. Like, we knew what the deal was,” Antetokounmpo said. “We knew that the moment we came in, we were on the same page, and the moment we were out, everybody was doing their own thing. But we were kind of in the same timeline. All of us. We had kids at the same time. We were living a mile away from one another. When we were there, we were there.”
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