Any concerns that Giannis Antetokounmpo would struggle to acclimate to the Miami Heat can be dismissed after just one preseason contest.
The two-time MVP revealed he's already become so enamored with "Heat Culture" that what should be an adjustment period has felt more like a rebirth.
"Yesterday, we had a meeting. It was probably one of the most exciting, entertaining meetings. There were two Navy SEALs and they were telling their story, and we were doing push-ups and shit," Antetokounmpo told The Athletic's Eric Nehm. "It's real and I love every f-----g second of it. I'm not even gonna lie. It gives me goosebumps. It's almost like being alive again."
Antetokounmpo, 31, was reportedly interested in joining the Heat long before the organization finally swayed the Milwaukee Bucks in July with a package of several players and picks, headlined by Milwaukee native Tyler Herro.
In his first preseason appearance for Miami on Saturday, Antetokounmpo finished with nine points, seven assists (all of which led to threes), and four rebounds in 14 minutes during a win over the Toronto Raptors. Head coach Erik Spoelstra lauded the Greek Freak's playmaking afterward, comparing the 6-foot-11 forward to Magic Johnson, whom current Heat president Pat Riley coached for over a decade with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Spoelstra said the organization shares a mutual appreciation with its newest star. The NBA's longest-tenured head coach also dismissed concerns about the various calf and knee injuries that limited Antetokounmpo to just 36 games during his final year in Milwaukee.
"I'm of the abundance theory on that and not fear-based or scarcity," Spoelstra told Nehm. "He's fully in his physical prime.
"I think the most important thing is he was able to prepare for this NBA season with a long offseason and really steel his body with a lot of weight lifting, conditioning, getting everything in alignment. He hasn't had the opportunity to do that in a few offseasons, and that's really prepared him physically."
