Notable update emerges on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with Heat

It appears that the Miami Heat can now breathe easy with superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The 10-time NBA All-Star Antetokounmpo is “likely” to sign a contract extension with the Heat in the coming months, Bobby Marks of ESPN reported this week. Marks adds that Antetokounmpo is expected to officially extend with the team either in January or over the summer.

Antetokounmpo, the 31-year-old former NBA MVP, is in his first season with Miami after being acquired in a blockbuster trade over the summer with his longtime former team the Milwaukee Bucks. But there was some real concern for Antetokounmpo and the Heat earlier in the year after they got off to an ugly 0-4 start.

Miami has since righted the ship though, winning five of their last seven games to climb back to 5-6 overall on the season. Helping the cause for the Heat has been a recent resurgence by sharpshooter Klay Thompson as well as the decision to move former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins to the bench in favor of Pelle Larsson.

Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, has certainly been holding up his end of the bargain in Miami. He currently boasts stout averages of 27.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game for the Heat while also appearing in all 11 games thus far.

As it stands right now, Antetokounmpo is signed for $58.5 million this season and can become a free agent this coming summer by turning down his $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. But Miami can pay Antetokounmpo more than any other team on a new contract, and it sounds like both sides are ready to make that happen (despite some of the recent drama involving Antetokounmpo in the press).