The hearts of Milwaukee Bucks fans have officially been broken.
Monday night, ESPN confirmed that Giannis Antetokounmpo was heading to Miami, putting all rumors of him being traded to rest.
After 13 seasons in Milwaukee, the “Giannis Era” has come to a close.
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According to ESPN, the blockbuster trade does not just include the two-time NBA MVP. Fans will also have to say their goodbyes to Bobby Portis. In exchange, the Bucks will pick up Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakučionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder.
BLOCKBUSTER: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NQT5ZhdJU9
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026
Milwaukee was forced to decide between a proposal from the Boston Celtics, which would have included MVP finalist Jaylen Brown and two unprotected first-round picks, and the Heat’s offer.
Either build a team around one player and risk a repeat of a season, or gain new assets.
The Bucks chose the latter.
With the trade, the Bucks are now bringing in a new era of basketball to Milwaukee, acquiring four players in their 20s. Included in the deal is Milwaukee native and Whitnall High School graduate Tyler Herro. However, according to The Athletic, league sources say it remains unclear whether Herro will remain with the Bucks.
In 2025, Ware was named to the All-Rookie 2nd Team. During the 2025-26 regular season, he averaged 11.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Jaquez finished as the runner-up for the 2025-26 Sixth Man of the Year award after averaging 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Jakučionis was the No. 20 overall pick in 2025 and finished his inaugural season with the Heat, averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists across 17.8 minutes per game.
“The Greek Freak” was drafted by Milwaukee in 2013 with the 15th overall pick. On Oct. 30 2013, at just 19 years-old, he made his debut for the Bucks against the New York Knicks. Playing for under five minutes, he finished with one point on 1-for-2 from the charity stripe, committed two fouls and a turnover.
That was 13 years ago. The “Greek Freak” finished the 2025-26 regular season averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and was sixth in the NBA in field goal percentage (62.4%).
Antetokounmpo has been named to the All-NBA 1st Team seven times throughout his career, became the Most Improved Player in 2017, won his second MVP award in 2020 and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year also in 2020.
Despite the accolades, Antetokounmpo will be remembered throughout the city as the one to lead the Bucks to the NBA Finals in 2020, where a 50-point performance in Game 6 helped the Bucks bring home a championship for the first time in 50 years.
According to ESPN, the Heat and the Bucks will finalize the deal on July 6, which means there is still an opportunity for change left.
For now, the city of Milwaukee is in mourning, but a franchise rebuild is just around the corner.
This story was written by Raquel Ruiz and can be reached at [email protected] or on X @RaquelRuizMU.
