MIAMI — Giannis Antetokounmpo said Thursday he believes joining the Miami Heat gives him the best opportunity to win another NBA championship as the franchise continues to pursue free agent LeBron James.
Speaking at his introductory news conference, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player said he chose Miami to chase another title after spending his first 13 NBA seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I’ve accomplished a lot of things in my career, but one of my goals is to win another championship,” Antetokounmpo said. “I feel like this is the best route for me to do that.”
Heat president Pat Riley celebrated Antetokounmpo’s arrival but also hinted the team remains interested in signing James, who became a free agent after announcing his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers in June.
“We landed the plane,” Riley said of acquiring Antetokounmpo. “Now there’s another one we have to land.”
James, however, offered no indication of his plans during an appearance at a fan festival in New York on Thursday.
Riley said Miami nearly acquired Antetokounmpo before the February trade deadline and emphasized that the Heat are focused on winning with their current roster.
Antetokounmpo, a 10-time NBA All-Star and the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, averaged 27.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists last season. Milwaukee missed the playoffs, fueling speculation about his future with the franchise.
The 31-year-old said he embraces the expectations that come with joining Miami.
“I thrive under pressure,” Antetokounmpo said. “I need pressure. I think to go to my next level, I’ve got to get out of my comfort zone and I feel like Miami was the place for me to be.”
Antetokounmpo also said he would wear No. 7 with the Heat, leaving behind the No. 34 jersey he wore throughout his career in Milwaukee out of respect for the organization that drafted him.