Giannis Antetokounmpo, 31, left a remarkable legacy on the city of Milwaukee. 13 seasons, 10 All-Star Games, two MVP awards, an NBA title, and a partridge in a pear tree.
However, that didn’t stop Bucks president Josh Glessing from trading their legend away to the Miami Heat this offseason. Albeit, the Bucks did endure an underwhelming season and saw themselves miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade. That said, to trade away your franchise cornerstone, the man who gave everything he had to give your team everything they’ve earned, is a hard task regardless.
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Rumors had been swirling about Giannis’ departure for most of the season as well. It was only a matter of time, but that doesn’t make the reality of the situation any less heartbreaking. And to boot, Antetokounmpo just posted a sorrowful video to social media thanking everyone involved during his time in Wisconsin.
What does Antetokounmpo say in his goodbye video?
In his video, Antetokounmpo stresses that he does not want the city of Milwaukee or the state of Wisconsin to remember him for the wins, the losses, the championships, or the basketball.
“I try to be like them,” he says.
He describes the city as “blue collar.” He continues, “It’s people who work hard every day. And give all their hard-earned money just to come watch the Milwaukee Bucks … I hope that I was able to represent them the best that I could.”
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Antetokounmpo then goes on to describe Milwaukee as his home. “This is a place that I had my kids. My mom is here. My father is here. My brothers played here. It made me the man that I am today.”
“No matter where I am, Milwaukee will always be my city, my team, my family.”
Other social media posts for Antetokounmpo’s farewell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s video will have Bucks fans sobbing
