Davion Mitchell has gotten a front-row look at what makes Giannis Antetokounmpo different, and the Miami Heat guard says the answer goes well beyond talent.
The Heat’s offseason trade for Antetokounmpo changed the entire tone in Miami. After spending years lining up against him with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat now have the Greek superstar in their own locker room, and Mitchell has been one of the teammates putting in extra work to get familiar with him before the 2026-27 season.
That work has included a trip to Greece, where Mitchell spent time with Antetokounmpo and came away with a deeper appreciation for how the star operates. Mitchell said the biggest takeaway was the mindset.
"I can just see why he became a champion and why he became MVP... His mentality is when I learned, like, 'Oh, this is why he became the person he is.' He became the MVP, DPOY, and the champion because his mentality is so different," Mitchell said about Antetokounmpo's secret to success on the Deuce & Mo podcast.
"All he wants to do is win, even going to dinner with him and having a conversation about that. It’s like winning about everything; it’s not just basketball, it’s like life in general."
For Mitchell, the offseason hasn’t just been about individual preparation. As the Heat’s starting point guard, he’s been busy getting himself ready while also building chemistry with his new superstar teammate. And after seeing Antetokounmpo up close, Mitchell sounds convinced Miami is stepping into the season with a different kind of edge.
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Heat Front Office Is Setting Up One More Big Swing
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Davion Mitchell, Nikola Jovic and Bobby Portis Jr. are among the names that could factor into that next phase, whether through future extensions or in trade discussions as Miami continues to protect flexibility. The idea is simple enough, even if the path is not: stay positioned to add another star-caliber piece if one becomes available, and avoid locking the roster into a shape that closes that door too early. [Read more 🡒]