Giannis Antetokounmpo got his first extended look at Bam Adebayo as a teammate during an offseason workout in Las Vegas, and the two-time MVP came away impressed by Miami’s longtime defensive anchor.
“Worked out for like 2-3 hours. I knew he was a good player. After the workout I realized he’s not a good player, he’s a great player,” Giannis said. “Most importantly he’s a good guy to be around. He seems like a guy that’s very competitive. He’s going to demand excellence.”
The workout marked one of the first steps in building the Heat’s new foundation after Miami acquired Giannis from the Milwaukee Bucks in a franchise-altering trade finalized in July. The deal paired two elite two-way forwards/bigs, giving Miami one of the league’s most versatile defensive combinations.
Giannis said Adebayo’s competitiveness and leadership qualities reflect the culture Miami has built under president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra.
“That’s why the Heat have been good for so long,” Giannis said. “I’m excited to improve our defense together. I’m excited to win games with him. I’m excited to be in high-pressure situations with him because I know he’s a guy that won’t break. He will be right there next to you.”
Adebayo enters the partnership after another productive 2025-26 season. The 28-year-old center averaged 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks in 73 games while earning Defensive Player of the Year consideration and finishing 11th in the voting. He also started all 73 games for a Heat team that finished 43-39 and reached the play-in tournament.
The addition of Giannis changes Miami’s ceiling after the team finished 10th in the Eastern Conference. The Heat sent Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, multiple future draft assets and a pick swap to Milwaukee for Giannis and Bobby Portis.
Miami’s 2025-26 roster featured strong production from Adebayo, All-Star Norman Powell and Herro, but both Powell and Herro are no longer with the team. Powell signed a two-year, $45 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, while Herro was the centerpiece of the trade package for Giannis.
The Heat have attempted to reshape the roster around their new star duo by retaining Andrew Wiggins on a three-year, $64 million contract and adding veteran shooter Tim Hardaway Jr. on a one-year deal. Miami also re-signed Simone Fontecchio and added guard Tre Donaldson on a two-way contract.
The biggest question entering the season will be offensive spacing. Both Giannis and Adebayo have historically been limited three-point shooters, meaning Miami’s perimeter additions will be important to maximize the pairing. Adebayo shot 31.8% from three on 5.5 attempts per game in 2025-26, while Giannis has remained primarily an interior scorer and playmaker.
Defensively, however, Miami believes the combination can become one of the NBA’s most difficult frontcourts to attack. Giannis has earned Defensive Player of the Year honors once and has been named to multiple All-Defensive teams, while Adebayo has finished among the league’s top defenders throughout his career.
Giannis said he hopes Adebayo is equally excited about the partnership as Miami prepares for a new era.
“I hope he’s excited that I’m here too,” Giannis said.
