Miami – Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two‑time NBA Most Valuable Player, is learning that life in South Florida comes with more than just sunshine and basketball. The new Miami Heat star recently posted a video of the backyard of his Miami residence, where a group of iguanas has taken up residence around his pool.
“If the iguanas keep on coming, I’ll probably move, maybe get an apartment. No pools, no grass, none of that stuff,” Antetokounmpo said with a laugh. “When I came here in July somebody told me they were kind of cute. They’re not cute. They’re not cute. It’s scary. But I’ll get used to it, hopefully. We’ll see.”
Heat’s big‑picture plans
The Heat are hopeful that the iguana issue will be a minor footnote compared with the larger task of integrating Antetokounmpo into a revamped roster. The team added the Greek forward alongside Klay Thompson, Bobby Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer, building around Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell.
“We brought him here for a reason. He’s here for a reason,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra explained. “We want him to establish himself in the conversation of being the best player in the league. We’re not bringing him here to take a step back, so we’ll try to maximize his strengths as much as we can and get him as comfortable as possible.”
First media day and upcoming training camp
Antetokounmpo’s first official media day with the Heat took place Monday, where he emphasized the learning curve ahead. “I’m trying to learn defense. I’m learning offenses. I’m trying to fit in the locker room with new faces. It’s all new for me. It’s exciting,” he said. “I know that I’m going to put in the work. Succeed or fail, I’m going to fail by working, or succeed by working. And the goal is to win a championship. That’s the goal.”
The Heat will open training camp on Tuesday in Boca Raton, about 45 minutes north of the AmericanAirlines Arena. The arena itself is still under construction, with workers adding new club spaces and fan amenities that should be ready for the season’s start.
Giannis’ career at a glance
Since entering the NBA in 2013, Antetokounmpo has amassed 21,531 points, 8,882 rebounds and 4,484 assists. His point and rebound totals rank fifth best in the league over that span, while his assist total sits 13th. Those numbers underscore why Miami sees him as one of the five best players currently in the league.
“I really do believe that if not the best, I’m one of the best players in the world,” Antetokounmpo said. “When I’m at my best, when I’m locked in, when my body is right, I really do believe that I can dominate the game and I can impact the game in both ways, offensively and defensively.”
For now, the iguanas remain the most immediate, albeit quirky, challenge for the NBA superstar as he settles into his new home and prepares to lead the Heat toward a championship pursuit.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
