After 13 full years and a career in basketball with the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo decided to leave the “Bucks” and try his luck at winning a second championship with the Miami Heat.

A few weeks after the mega-trade was finalized, the Greek superstar felt the need to publicly express his love and gratitude for the city of Milwaukee and the Wisconsin team, with which he grew up and became the man he is today.

The “Greek Freak” posted a touching video featuring his best moments with the “Deer,” from the start of his career to winning the championship in 2021, thanking the entire organization for everything they’ve experienced together over the years, and emphasizing once again that Milwaukee will always be his home!

Here is his message in full: “I want

the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin to remember this about me. Don’t worry about basketball. Don’t worry about the championship. Don’t worry about wins and losses.

I try to be like them. I believe the city of Milwaukee is ‘blue-collar’ (ed. note: workers). It’s a city of people who work very hard every day. They spend all the money they’ve worked so hard to earn to come and watch the Bucks play. To come and feel something. To come and be a part of us.

I hope I managed to represent them as best I could. I was just like them. I was there, ready to do all the hard work, just like them. I hope that bringing the trophy to the city meant something to them, because it meant so much to me.

I want you to hear this from me. Milwaukee will always be in my heart. It’s my home. This is where I raised my kids. My mom is here. My dad is here. My brothers played here. It made me the man I am today. That will never, ever change. No matter where I am, Milwaukee will always be my city, my team, my family.”

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— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) July 6, 2026

*photo source: AP