SI:AM | The Greek Tragedy in Milwaukee

Brigid Kennedy 

Good morning, sports fans. This is Brigid Kennedy (of SI:CYMI fame, for those subscribed to another one of Sports Illustrated’s morning newsletters) here to pinch-hit for Dan Gartland. If you’re looking to confuse those in your life today, try firing off a cryptic post on social media. It worked super well for Giannis Antetokounmpo.  

In today’s SI:AM:

🇬🇷 The Giannis drama comes to an end

🏀 The NBA welcomes a new class of stars

🐐 Leo Messi stays GOATed 

The Giannis trade saga reaches its conclusion

Sam Navarro/Imagn Images

Well, folks—it happened. Just before midnight, no less (par for the course with these NBA trades, I’m telling ya): The Miami Heat agreed to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, bringing an end to a saga that has hung over both him and the Milwaukee Bucks for the last year.

Things between the NBA superstar and his presumed career-long franchise have been seemingly on the rocks since the Bucks went on yet another disappointing run in the 2025 postseason. At the time, the belief was that Giannis wanted to play for a contender, but Milwaukee’s draft-pick situation meant the front office was going to have an awfully hard time building a team around their guy.

⚽ Check out SI’s World Cup Daily

Antetokounmpo himself never outright asked to be traded; he remained pretty coy and vague about the speculation, expertly answering question after question even as the team’s season flittered away and the rumor mill did its thing. As far back as January, even, he said that there “will never be a moment that I will come out and say, ‘I want a trade,’” because “that’s not … in … my … nature. O.K.?” Still, talk persisted for the rest of the season … which then ended on quite the sour note for both parties. (You might recall the league investigation into the Bucks, which Giannis prompted when he accused the team of holding him out on purpose? Yeah, not good.)

After that, it was inevitable that the Greek Freak would move on. The only question was when. As of Monday night, word on the street was that a deal would go down sometime ahead of the draft, which made sense: The Bucks would have the chance to net some picks in a swap, and this year’s pool is chock full of young talent. But the streets were also saying that the team was deciding between two very different packages from Miami and Boston, one of which was believed to be more draft-focused than the other.CONTINUE BRIGID’S COLUMN ON SI 

 

OpenWeb

Recommended by  

The best of Sports Illustrated

Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images

How Otto Lopez Radically Transformed Into MLB’s Best Pure Hitter

By Tom VerducciREAD MORE

Tullio Puglia/ FIFA/FIFA/Getty Images

Record Breaker Lionel Messi Proves Age Is Just a Number

By Bryan FischerREAD MORE

Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images

What to Watch for NBA Draft 2026: Latest Intel Around No. 1 Pick, Predicted Risers and Fallers

By Kevin SweeneyREAD MORE

Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images

Final Full Two-Round 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Scouting Reports on All 60 Projected Picks

By Kevin SweeneyREAD MORE

Junfu Han/Imagn Images

Mike Boynton Deserves Chance to Lead Michigan After Misfortune Marred Oklahoma State Tenure

By Pat FordeREAD MORE

Kirby Lee/Imagn Images

Offseason Good, Bad and Ugly: Rams’ Favorite Status Is Good for the NFL

By Matt VerderameREAD MORE

Robert Deutsch/Imagn Images

Dusty May’s Departure Reveals a Huge Problem College Basketball Can’t Ignore

By Kevin SweeneyREAD MORE 

Get the print edition of Sports Illustrateddelivered to your door.

Click to subscribe! 

David Butler II/Imagn Images

👀 The top five …

… clicks to start your day

5. Tyrese Haliburton back on the basketball court?! Well, not in the way you’d think, but he did still notch an assist at the Fever gamelast night.

4. Norway secured a spot in the round of 32 at the World Cup, and players on the field joined in on the crowd’s Viking celebration. A really fun watch.

3. This absolutely hilarious tweet from MLB’s social admin, who found the intersection of my interests when they combined Love Islandwith baseball. 

2. The moment Brittney Griner became the WNBA’s all-time leader in blocked shots.

1. And the moment Leo Messi became the all-time leading World Cup scorer. 

OpenWeb

Recommended by  


We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email.

Sports Publishing Solutions Inc.
625 Broadway, 10th floor
New York, NY. 10012
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:AM newsletter.

You can unsubscribe here  .

Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions

© 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC.
All betting and gambling content included in the SI:AM newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators’ opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLERor texting 800GAM.

Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.

Unknown's avatar

Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

Leave a Comment