Heat Central

Giannis on his belief in manifestation and tells a story about Kobe Bryant challenging him: “Be able to self talk in a positive way. ‘I am the best. I want to keep going.’ I’m a little more vulgar when I speak to myself. ‘I’m the toughest motherf*cker out here. I feel no pain. I have no doubt. I’m gonna make this shot. God makes no mistakes.’ All those words help me. Things come to reality. 2017, Kobe was sending out challenges to a lot of players… Kobe responded to my tweet ‘MVP.’ — I was like ‘ok, I’m gonna work.’ If he believes, then I’m gonna believe… I had this water bottle that said MVP. I used to see it all the time. Every single day. I had this thing on the wall that said MVP. Everyday I walked out my house I saw those 3 letters…. Keep on speaking things into existence. It’s going to happen” (Via youtu.be/n2eCGjjvjUo?is…)

Giannis Antetokounmpo opens up about wanting to step away from basketball in 2020: “Around 2020 I was dealing with some mental health stuff that I wanted to take a step away from basketball. I said this in the past, I don’t really like being famous. I’m very reserved…. I had so much load on my shoulder. My dad passed away, I just had a baby, I gotta be the father figure to my brother because we just lost our dad. I had to be a father to my son. At the same time I got to be the best athlete in the world. There’s so much pressure that comes with that so I wanted to take a step away from the game. I realized ‘no, I’m never going to let somebody take the joy away from what I do.’ — That moment made me who I am today. I feel like mentally, I’m unbreakable… At the end of the day, everybody will have opinions about things i do.” (Via youtu.be/n2eCGjjvjUo?is…)

Patrick Beverly loves Giannis playing with Bam in Miami: “When you put any superstar in a system and culture like Miami, I think you have to put them up there. If they were able to figure it out time and time again with Jimmy Butler, Coach Spo has seen everything. You’re not talking about a superstar that needs to be catered to. When you talk about Greek, you talk about a professional. You’re talking about one of the best professionals going to one of the most professional organizations. I like how that looks. I like how him and Bam look. I like the start of him and Bam and I trust Coach Spo and Pat Riley…. I think everybody says their one of the best teams in the East” (Via youtu.be/nZchFiDO3yA?is…)

Kendrick Perkins believes Giannis is easy to scout: “People got in they feelings because I said you can’t win a championship without Giannis as your number one scoring option, I stand on that! It’s not because Giannis can’t give you 30 points a night. When it becomes possession by possession, you get into a half court set, it’s easy to scout for Giannis and say ‘we’re gonna load up, force him to take jump shots, if he gets to the rack we’re gonna force him to take FTs.’” (Via @LlewellynMartel / youtu.be/UnPJMzxIV6g?is…)

Kendrick Perkins LOVES the Giannis and Bam fit for the Heat: “I love it. Defensively they’re gonna be a problem. If they’re not a top 5 defensive team in the league I gotta start looking at Bam and Giannis sideways…. No matter who they put around them, they should be top 5. If I’m the Heat, I actually love the duo. I think it challenges Bam to continue to get better. His ability to stretch the floor and knock down 3s consistently is going to be at an all time high. The only reason Rudy and KAT was able to work and co exist, was because KAT ability to stretch the floor. Bam has those same capabilities” (Via @LlewellynMartel / youtu.be/UnPJMzxIV6g?is…)

Zach LaVine could be a name to keep an eye on for Miami: - Sacramento remains a near 2nd apron team and could waive and stretch LaVine to massively reduce their cap sheets without giving up any assets in a trade. - In 2024, LaVine listed Miami atop his 5 preferred destinations along with Sacramento, LA, Philadelphia, and San Antonio. - Miami could create sufficient cap space to offer him the full $15M MLE by a Wiggins paycut of around $6M or by a salary dump of Nikola Jovic. - Zach is a Rich Paul client who recently hinted at the Heat adding a $30/40M player for around $15/20M. Don’t be surprised if Rich wants his guy out of SAC - Sam Amick also said Rich Paul could be exploring all options with his client and could possibly take less money on his next contract While the LeBron watch is definitely on, just keep an eye on Zach Lavine’s future as well.

LeBron James felt like ESPN took advantage of him in 2010 when he decided to join the Heat, per @WindhorstESPN “The Heat did not like us there. LeBron was in a bad mood about ESPN. He thought ESPN had turned his back on him and taken advantage of him in the wake of the decision. He was annoyed by all the coverage. Looking back on it, it was annoying.” (open.spotify.com/episode/7eQiZv…)

Bobby Marks list of free agents who ‘fit’ the Miami Heat: - Anfernee Simons - Tim Hardaway Jr - Collin Sexton - Ochai Agbaji - Antonio Reeves - Keon Ellis - Moussa Cisse - Kevin Huerter - Pat Spencer - John Collins - Mitchell Robinson - Branden Carlson - Andre Drummond - Caleb Love - Simone Fontecchio Who do we want the most Heat Nation? 🤔

Brian Windhorst tells story of LeBron being stunned that he was getting booed his first year in Miami after a game in Memphis: “That was one of the things that stunned LeBron so much. I can still remember his 2nd or 3rd week his first year in Miami, the team went to Memphis. They got booed mercilessly in Memphis. LeBron after the game was like ‘why am I getting booed in Memphis!!? What did I ever say or do to Memphis?’ He was coming to realization that the casuals and neutrals were against him.” (Via open.spotify.com/episode/7eQiZv…)

JHarvin does another Giannis skit that involves Pat Riley and LeBron 💀 (Via IG jharvin15)

Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson discuss LeBron coming to Miami: Chad: He’s not going back to LA. I can tell you that… You heard it here first… LeBron, Klay, Giannis, Bam! Shannon: I will say this about LeBron, he is one of the most forgiving people that I know… If he can forgive Dan Gilbert for the things he said, you can forgive Pat Riley for throwing the cookies in the trash. Pat said ‘I’ll leave the key under the door mat if he wanna come back.’ Pat knows what that man represents” (Via @NightcapShow_)

@LegionHoops @ramonashelburne .

REPORT: Thanasis is not expected to join Giannis in Miami, per @ramonashelburne. Damn 💔 (h/t @HeatCulture13)

The Miami Heat WILL NOT be taking anymore Antetokounmpo brothers on their roster, per @ramonashelburne “There won’t be anymore Antetokounmpo brothers in Miami. That whole ‘we have Kostas and Thanasis on the team’ I don’t think that’s going to continue from what I understand.” (Via ESPN LA YouTube)

Danny Parkins ranks Giannis and Bam as a duo vs rest of the league: Giannis/Bam > Haliburton/Siakem ✅ Giannis/Bam > Mitchell/Harden ✅ Giannis/Bam > Cunningham/Duren ✅ Giannis/Bam > Banchero/Bane ✅ Giannis/Bam > Embiid/Maxey ✅ Giannis/Bam < Castle/Wemby ❌ Giannis/Bam < Jokic/Murray ❌ Giannis/Bam > Luka/LeBron ✅ Giannis/Bam < Brunson/Kat ❌ Giannis/Bam < Brown/Tatum ❌ What would you change about this list? 🤔 (Via @FTFonFS1)

“I can tell you that it is something they will explore. I do know he has no hard feelings against the organization. I do know that for sure. That’s been the case for years… I have thought he’d end up in Golden State. I still think that’s possible but Cleveland and Miami are two other teams I’d be looking at right now” — @EthanJSkolnick on LeBron and Heat rumors (Via open.spotify.com/episode/2D0MoL…)

“There is definitely a lot of belief around the leagues, around Los Angeles stemming out of Klutch Sports, that LeBron has so many outcomes on the table here. It might even be more likely than not, that he leaves Los Angeles than stays with the Lakers” — @JakeLFischer on LeBrons future

Giannis and his new Trojan Ad 💀 “This summer, I’m ready for anything” (This is also the same day he workout with Bam) (Via IG Giannis_an34)

Brian Windhorst on covering the Heat and how LeBron may feel about the organization 👀 “I admire the Heat organization so much. I value the relationships created—I learned so much listening to Riley—They conduct themselves w/ professionalism & class. I've got nothing but wonderful positive things to say about Miami—I think LeBron might feel the same. He still mimics some of the stuff Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra would say” (Via open.spotify.com/episode/7eQiZv… h/t @dru_star )

Colin Cowherd says LeBron James is EXACTLY what the Heat need: “He likes the warm weather, he’s a golfer now. You can golf year round in Miami… Miami is on fire. It’s a fun city, he’s been there. It works. Miami with Giannis, Bam, and Portis, what do they need? Shot creation…. Scoring and facilitating is what MIA will be struggling with. Spo, Riley, LeBron, Giannis, Bam, Portis, Wiggins, Bronny, that’s a squad.” The media is starting to push the LeBron to Miami narrative 👀 (Via @TheHerd)

@pourdajuice #thanasissources

@HeatCulture13 What did thanasis say

Giannis really forced his way to Miami to play with Bam, Thanasis wasn’t lying. This shit means something to me. 🥹