Former Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, standing alongside Miami Heat president Pat Riley (L) and coach Erik Spoelstra (R), attempts in introductory news conference Thursday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Photo by Alex Butler/UPI
Miami Heat president Pat Riley said Thursday that acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to form a power rotation is a “dream come true.”
Riley made the comments during the introductory news conferences for Antetokounmpo and Portis, who were acquired earlier this month in a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat gave up a haul in the swap, including sharpshooter Tyler Herro and several young assets and draft picks.
They now appear set to deploy a gigantic, physical lineup, with an emphasis on defense, anchored by the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo and 6-foot-9 Bam Adebayo.
“It’s sort of a dream or an aspiration of mine that came true,” Riley said at the Kaseya Center. “I think with Bam and Giannis and Nicola Jovic and Bobby, we’ve got a very potent, power rotation that is very versatile.”
Riley cited anxiety during the process of luring Antetokounmpo to Miami, which he said nearly occurred in February. Antetokounmpo called the process “tiring” and told Riley he was “scared” during a phone call prior to his arrival. But he also said he is excited to compete for a new franchise and wants to be “coached hard” by the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra.
The Heat, who have typically leaned on their defense for success, went 43-39 last season, failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They posted a franchise-record 116.7 offensive rating, but also logged a franchise-worst 114.5 defensive rating.
Spoelstra said he expects Antetokounmpo and Adebayo, who attended Thursday’s news conferences, to fuel a new version of the Heat defense.
“The biggest thing with the both of them is they’re elite competitors,” Spoelstra said. “It matters to them to defend. They are gnarly competitors. And if we’re not defending the way we want to, I’m sure they’re going to let everybody know.
“That’s how you build a great defense.”
Riley said the assets the Heat surrendered in the trade were “great, young players,” but placed an emphasis on winning “now.” Antetokounmpo, who won a title with the Bucks in 2020-21, mulled his choices before ultimately landing in Miami. He said he thought the move was his best route to another title and expects the Heat to be successful immediately.
“We are going to be good,” Antetokounmpo said. “We are going to be good. I will speak things into existence. It’s going to happen.”
Antetokounmpo and Adebayo are expected to be joined by guards Davion Mitchell and Tim Hardaway Jr. and forward Andrew Wiggins in the Heat’s starting lineup, with Portis likely coming off the bench.
Portis, a frequent Sixth Man of the Year candidate, said he would again relish that role in Miami.
“In the league, you have to find a niche, find a role that you can help stay around and help impact winning,” Portis said. “In my career trajectory, I look at what I can do and where I can fit at. For me, it’s been coming off the bench and being a guy that gets baskets, rebounds at a high level, and competes at a high level. And be that Sixth Man type of guy on whatever team I’m on. … Obviously, I’m not ever looking to start.”
But despite his willingness to come off the bench, the 6-foot-9 Portis said he was not a “throw-in piece” in the deal for Antetokounmpo. He said he spoke to his longtime teammate this off-season about where to go to continue winning.
“Obviously, the conversations I had with Giannis has always been about winning,” Portis said. “Where can we go to win? How can we impact winning? How can we get another chip? That’s always been the talk. It hasn’t been about anything else but winning. … I want to play in June again. I want to play in high-pressure games, high-pressure moments.”
Riley hinted that the Heat, who continue to be linked to free agent LeBron James, might not be finished adding to their revamped roster. He referred to Antetokounmpo’s acquisition as “landing a plane.” He later referred to the two-time MVP as a “747.”
“I got a call [from Heat general manager Andy Elisburg] after a month of discussion and the call came late and he said to me, ‘we have a deal.’ And he closed the deal and we both sort of screamed out loud, ‘yeah, we landed the plane.’
“Now there’s another one we have to land,” Riley said.
Riley was later asked if the second plane he was referring to was a “24-year veteran,” a reference to James. He called the Heat’s present approach in free agency “day-to-day.”
“As far as a 24-year veteran, that is something that would happen organically,” Riley said. “I hope I’m not talking out of both sides of my mouth here, but you never know that you’re ever going to win a title until you win one. But you’ll never win one if you don’t have the talent and the coaching to do it.”
Riley called landing Antetokounmpo “nirvana,” citing his decorated career and the icons he has worked around, including Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, James, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, among others.
“I think this is just part of who the Heat are, in the pursuit of excellence,” Riley said. “You don’t win championships unless you have greatness on the court and on the bench. … I’m just so excited for this challenge.”
The Heat’s championship odds jumped upon Antetokounmpo’s arrival in Miami. But the “Greek Freak” said he “loves pressure” and plans to deliver.
“I know the expectations that this team has,” Antetokounmpo said. “Coach Spo talked about pressure and I think I thrive with pressure. I think I need pressure at this time of my career. In order for me to go to the next level, I’ve got to get out of my comfort zone. I feel like Miami was the place for me to be. We are very like-minded as a team.
“It was a no-brainer. I wanted to be here. I’m excited to be here and I want to get to work.”
