Giannis Antetokounmpo seems to have already “embraced” his new reality in Miami and the famous Heat Culture, with the Greek superstar saying he is impressed by the mindset, the intensity, and the demands he has encountered with the Heat.

Speaking to “The Athletic,” Antetokounmpo did not hesitate to describe the philosophy that has become the organization’s trademark as genuine, making it clear that it is not merely a public relations ploy. In fact, he described his feelings from his very first days with his new team in particularly vivid terms, even mentioning that he got… goosebumps.

The 31-year-old star, who is preparing for his 14th NBA season, has already participated in Miami’s practices and mini-camp, and has experienced firsthand the fast pace and competitiveness that characterize Erik Spoelstra’s team.

At the same time, Antetokounmpo admitted that his approach this year is different from previous years. He wanted to get to know his new teammates and coaches early on so he could better understand their philosophy and adapt more quickly to the new environment.

At the same time, despite the fact that he played in only 36 games last season, the “Greek Freak” shows no signs of changing his playing style. He acknowledges, however, that as he gets older, he’ll need to be more selective about when he puts all his energy into the game.

All of Giannis’s comments

On Heat Culture: “No, it’s real. It’s real.”

On what stands out to him in Miami: “The unity. How serious they are. The communication. We had a meeting yesterday. It was probably one of the most exciting and fun meetings we’ve ever had. Two Navy SEALs came in, told us their stories, and we did push-ups and all sorts of other stuff. It’s real, and I’m enjoying every f***ing moment of it. I’m not going to lie. It gives me goosebumps. It’s almost like I feel alive again.”

On the intensity of the workouts: “No, it’s definitely real. Communication. Hard work. Competition. Being direct. The expectations I have of you—make sure you do your job. It’s real. It’s very real. The guys play hard and fast in practice. It’s real.”

On the fact that he’s always played with great intensity: “For 13 years in the NBA, I’ve always played hard. So it’s like two different timelines are coming together. I’m just being myself. They don’t make me play any harder. I’ve always been able to give it my all.”

On managing his energy: “There have to be moments when you need to be more methodical about how hard you’re going to play or when you need to go all out, so you can choose your moments wisely. That’s what I’m trying to do, but I know I still have a lot of fuel left in me. I know I’m 31, but I’m not 35 or 36, so I don’t think I need to start taking it easy. Look at Kevin Durant—KD just turned 38. I’m 31. I know I still have five or six good years left. We’ll see.”

On the fact that he chose to join training camp early this year: “It’s a younger team now. I’m trying to get to know the culture, learn their language, the way they talk. They had organized things. When things are organized, I have to show up. If they aren’t organized, you usually do your own thing—it’s not like I was just sitting on the couch. I was working.”

It’s kind of hard as you get older and have kids and all that. It’s hard to travel and juggle everything. But here, since it’s my first year in Miami, I wanted to come. I wanted to get to know the players. I wanted to meet the coaches, look them in the eye, and understand their offensive and defensive philosophies. That helped me speed up the learning process so that when the season starts, I’ll be ready.”

On Klay Thompson: “Klay is still going strong. He’s in his 16th season. I’ve only got 14. I’ll get there too.”

On his new role on the team: “You have to be involved. You have to speak up. You have to bring people together. They need to see your face. They need to hear your voice. At some point, you have to do it.”

*photo source: AP