Weeks before Kaseya Center opens for business, Giannis Antetokounmpo was already running the show. Miami’s new franchise cornerstone gathered Bam Adebayo, Klay Thompson and teammates for an unofficial minicamp around September 10-12, skipping Greece’s FIBA qualifiers to focus on his first season with the Heat.
For a team with this much new talent, the goal was straightforward: get some of the awkwardness out early. Antetokounmpo arrived in Miami via a blockbuster trade from Milwaukee this past June, headlining a summer that also brought Thompson on a two-year deal, Bobby Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr. to South Beach.
Getting chemistry right before camp
The unofficial sessions blended on-court work with team bonding — golf rounds, karaoke nights and, notably, a boat day with Thompson at the helm. Antetokounmpo shared photos captioned “Boat ride with Captain Klay.” That kind of moment does not show up in a boxscore, but it matters when November’s schedule starts for real.
Official training camp begins September 29 at Kaseya Center, with Miami’s first preseason game set for October 3. Rather than wait for Day 1 of camp to make introductions, Antetokounmpo pulled his new teammates together weeks in advance — a clear signal of the leadership role the front office expects him to fill.
A roster built to compete now
The trade reshaped Miami’s entire timeline. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. went to Milwaukee along with three first-round picks and the No. 13 selection in the 2026 Draft. The return: a two-time MVP and Finals MVP who has averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists over 13 NBA seasons, per ESPN.
Pairing Antetokounmpo with Adebayo creates one of the most versatile frontcourt combinations in the Eastern Conference. Thompson adds shooting range and two championships of playoff experience. The question for coach Erik Spoelstra is not talent — it is cohesion. That process started this week.
“The point of the week is getting the awkwardness out of the way before Sept. 29,” one source familiar with the minicamp told HoopsWire. By the looks of it, Miami has a head start.
