Leaving the Milwaukee Bucks was clearly not an easy choice for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as demonstrated by a new video showing his reaction to farewell messages from fans.
In a new video, Antetokounmpo is seen watching a video of Milwaukee fans wishing him well following his trade to the Miami Heat. Various Bucks fans tell Antetokounmpo how much he meant to them and wish him well in Miami.
By the end of the video, Antetokounmpo can be seen wiping tears from his eyes.
“Doesn’t matter where I am. Obviously I have a new chapter ahead of me with the Miami Heat and I’m going to make the best of it, but Milwaukee will always be my home,” Antetokounmpo says in the video. “Obviously, when I see videos like that, it makes me emotional. Don’t cry because it’s over, laugh and smile because it happened.
“I’m so grateful and happy for the 13 years I was with the Milwaukee Bucks because I had incredible memories. They made me. They allowed me to be me. They allowed me to walk in the streets with my flip-flops, my sweats. I feel like they were my family. You never know in life, man. Maybe our roads meet again.”
Giannis on leaving the Bucks:
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 27, 2026
“Doesn’t matter where I am. Obviously I have a new chapter ahead of me with the Miami Heat and I’m going to make the best of it… don’t cry because it’s over, laugh and smile because it happened. — You never know in life, maybe our roads meet again.… pic.twitter.com/1dJkXzsdlF
Antetokounmpo’s final days with the Bucks were a bit messy and not as cordial as they could have been. It is clear, however, that he maintains a deep affection for the city and the franchise even though he is moving on to Miami. That was clear from the farewell video he posted after the deal was made official.
That said, Antetokounmpo has shown nothing but excitement about the chance to contend for a championship in Miami. He might have had a better chance had he made an appeal to LeBron James, though.
