Boca Raton, FL – With Giannis Antetokounmpo starting a new NBA journey with the Miami Heat after his time with the Milwaukee Bucks for the last 13 seasons, one should expect a learning curve when entering a new situation after that long of a stint. While it's clear that the Heat's offense and defense can start hot with its talent, Antetokounmpo would share the hurdles that he needs to jump over with his new team.

Speaking after the second day of training camp at Florida Atlantic University on Wednesday, Antetokounmpo was asked about what has been the hardest part of getting started with Miami. The 31-year-old superstar touched on the Heat's “principles,” as Miami ‘plays totally different to what I've been used to.'

Plus, Antetokounmpo mentions the little aspects that people might not think about, like how he predetermines a play.

“The spacing is different, the way that the guys move inside the board is different. Of course, the spots are different,” Antetokounmpo said. “Like, I think that's going to be hard for me because I don't want to only be good and just be out there; I want to understand. I want to know where I'm going, and I want to know what my teammates is doing, because sometimes, a lot of times, when I make plays, I predetermine.”

“So I might throw a pass knowing that the guy will be there,” Antetokounmpo continued. “Like today I threw a ball out of bounds, and I expected the guy to be there, and the guy moved the other way. So that's going to be the toughest thing for me. But at the end of the day, I think we have a great coaching staff that talks to me. I always want feedback, like talk to me as much as I can. I want to try to, like, soak in as much information as I can.”

Giannis on the hardest part of getting started with the #Heat:

“Just the principles. They play totally different to what I've been used to…I think that's going to be hard for me because I don't want to only be good and just be out there and like I want to understand…” pic.twitter.com/m8WwDpKyhL

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) September 30, 2026

Heat's Giannis Antetokounmpo on battling Bam Adebayo in training camp

As Antetokounmpo is going through his first training camp with the Heat, there's no denying that the team has a reputation for their hard practice sessions, with Klay Thompson saying Tuesday that it was “tiring,” but “gratifying.” For Antetokounmpo, it “was everything that I expected and more.”

“I'm having fun,” Antetokounmpo said. “Guys are competing, guys are playing the right way, guys are being together. I'm having fun. Day two today, I have a lot more experience to go through, so I'm just taking it a day at a time.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo on how his first #Heat training camp has gone. #FAU

“Was everything that I expected and more. I'm having fun. Guys are competing. Guys are playing the right way. Guys are being together. I'm having fun…” pic.twitter.com/ppj6ICZMYQ

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) September 30, 2026

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Part of the preparation has been Antetokounmpo working in one-on-one drills with the other big men, with the box office attraction being against Bam Adebayo.

The two have battled on separate teams a myriad of times, but now it's on the same team, and as they say, iron sharpens iron, with Antetokounmpo saying that he doesn't think “there are many bigs better” than Adebayo and Miami newcomer Bobby Portis Jr., who came in the blockbuster trade.

“During practice, sometimes because you play five-on-five, three-on-three, four-on-four, you work on your principles, you work on your defense, work on your offense, running lanes, and all that, you don't really get in touch with your skills,” Antetokounmpo said. “You know, so at the end of the day, like when you play against a guy like Bobby [Portis] or Nick [Richards] or Bam [Adebayo], you're only going to get better…So the game becomes easier. Sometimes we talk about it every other day, just to, like, play three, four spots one-on-one, just to stay loose, stay ready, because it's going to help the team.”

At any rate, Antetokounmpo will continue to hone his skills and hope to return to an elite level, averaging at least 30 points and 11 rebounds, as he did in the three seasons that came before last year with the Bucks, where he played in 36 games.