Miami Heat fans are one step closer to seeing the reality of Giannis Antetokounmpo in uniform ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. Giannis is officially back in the US after seemingly spending most of the offseason overseas, and that only means the start of basketball may already be in the air.
Giannis was seen on social media working out with a few of his new Heat teammates weeks before the start of Heat training camp.
Heat players are currently holding a team camp just weeks before training camp starts 🔥
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) September 10, 2026
Davion Mitchell with Giannis and Andrew Wiggins: “Team camp with the bros 🙏”
(Via IG davionmitchell/ jadenmathistraining) pic.twitter.com/k7FFK5iiMS
NBA Training camps officially open a little more than two weeks from now, and excitement, especially for Heat fans, is at an all-time high. Objectively speaking, I can't remember the last time Heat fans were this excited (in a completely warranted way) about a new season.
Heat hype is at a level that only rivals 2010
There's an argument to be made that it rivals the excitement heading into the 2019-20 NBA season after they acquired Jimmy Butler. But Giannis is a much bigger star and player than Jimmy, with all due respect, than he was at that time.
Before that, the best argument for finding a comparative level of hype is 2010 (after acquiring LeBron James and Chris Bosh). If that doesn't speak to how important this upcoming season is (and how successful a summer the Heat just had), I'm not sure if there's anything that will.
Heat fans are desperately waiting for the start of the season, and Giannis' return to the States as he begins to work out with his new teammates only means we're inching closer to that moment.
Miami's training camp begins in late September, but their first preseason game will take place on October 3. It's at that moment that Miami fans will likely get their first look at Giannis in a Heat uniform.
Giannis will make his debut with the Heat next month
Even though I'd imagine the Heat are going to be careful with Giannis in pre-season, I still have to think they're going to want him to get his feet wet. Who knows if that will happen during the Heat's opening pre-season game, especially since it is in Canada, but it's a date that many Heat fans have circled on their calendars.
And even though this monumental trade was executed more than two months ago, there's still a surreal feeling around it all. Giannis is a Heat. Even saying it out loud is difficult to believe.
Soon enough, though, it will be a reality. The fact that Giannis is back on US soil and working out with his new teammates makes it that much more real.
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