MIAMI – With Miami Heat newcomer Giannis Antetokounmpo looking to bring a positive impact to the team this season, there's no denying that the 31-year-old is excited for the new chapter in his NBA career after 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. As the Heat are shaping their team around Antetokounmpo, the latest comments from the two-time MVP are sure to excite any fan ahead of the regular-season opener on Oct. 21 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Tuesday evening saw Miami host its annual “Red, White, and Pink Game,” an intrasquad public scrimmage as the proceeds earned during the event benefit cancer care and research at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute.

Speaking before the exhibition, Antetokounmpo shared how he's feeling after training camp last week and the first preseason game in the 129-105 preseason opening win over the Toronto Raptors, saying that “it's good to be on this side.”

“I feel good. This is my first time being out here with fans,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m excited, I’m motivated, I’m working hard, I’m locked in.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks with @TheJaxShow before the #Heat’s annual Red, White, and Pink scrimmage about his new NBA chapter in Miami and the importance of Breast Cancer awareness. pic.twitter.com/LoiBMmAHmH

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 6, 2026

Antetokounmpo played just over 10 minutes in the scrimmage, but it was memorable, starting the night with a dunk, recording 14 points on six of 11 shooting from the field, two of six from deep, with five assists and three rebounds. Talking about the event after Monday's practice, he wanted to “put on a show,” and he did just that.

“To be able to connect with our fans, and there’s a lot of people that might be working or might be busy during the year and then don’t have the opportunity to come and watch us play,” Antetokounmpo said. “We have to go there and be locked in, try to put on a show, engage as much as we can with the fans.”

Giannis on the #Heat’s annual Red, White, and Pink scrimmage tomorrow: pic.twitter.com/rQEZAgjYES

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 5, 2026

Giannis getting by Jovic for the dunk. #Heat pic.twitter.com/7f0pZnFOA2

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 6, 2026

Heat's Giannis Antetokounmpo stood out in annual public scrimmage

Aside from Antetokounmpo playing in the scrimmage, he took part in a “Dad Jokes” challenge with star teammate Bam Adebayo, as the goal was to not make each other laugh at the puns.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo play a game of “Dad Jokes” lol #Heat pic.twitter.com/FjmBLyLFXe

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 6, 2026

Aside from basketball, the goal of the night was to raise awareness for Breast Cancer and other forms, plus celebrate the survivors, as mentioned by head coach Erik Spoelstra.

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“It is really important to us,” Spoelstra said Monday. “We talked about it before practice. We want to make it a really special night for all the survivors. Just like any place in life, it has affected so many of us in our organization. We want to celebrate the survivors, celebrate the ones that are still battling and fighting. And it’s just a great night for everybody to come together, use the game of basketball to also think about the others that are going through or have gone through something very difficult.”

Though not a full look at Antetokounmpo, he showed Monday night the gravity he has on a basketball court, driving downhill, commanding the paint, but also being an effective playmaker.

The playmaking in particular was a standout aspect of his preseason debut with Miami, recording nine points on three-for-three shooting from the field, three of four from the free-throw line, to go along with seven assists and four rebounds in 14 minutes.

At any rate, Antetokounmpo looks to log a healthy year for the Heat, after playing 36 with Milwaukee in 2025-26, and get back to averaging at least 30 points, 11 rebounds, and around six assists per game, as he did for three straight seasons from 2022 to 2025.