Giannis Antetokounmpo said he will not recruit LeBron James because he trusts his decision-making, believes he must choose what is best for his family, and feels LeBron already knows what the Miami Heat organization can offer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo would welcome the opportunity to play alongside LeBron James in Miami, but he has no plans to personally recruit the four-time NBA champion.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Position PF, C
Age 31
Height 211 cm
Weight 110 kg
Birth place Athens, Greece
With James still weighing his next move in free agency, the Miami Heat have been widely discussed as a potential destination.
Miami recently completed a blockbuster trade for Antetokounmpo, placing the two-time MVP alongside Bam Adebayo as the foundation of its new-look roster.
However, Antetokounmpo believes James has earned the right to make the decision without pressure from other players.
"I don't think I'll pitch anything to him," Antetokounmpo said. "I feel like, always in his career, he has made good decisions. That's what history has shown. Everywhere he's been, he's won."
"If he believes the Miami Heat organization is a good decision for him and his family, he should make that decision."
Giannis would welcome chance to learn from LeBron
While he will not launch a recruitment effort, Giannis made it clear that he would be excited to have James as a teammate.
"He's one of the greatest players to play this game, if not the greatest," he continued. "From Day 1, he offers so much to a team."
"For me, having a guy like that would be wonderful – to learn from him and pick his brain. He's a person I definitely look up to."
Credit AP-Scanpix
A return to Miami would bring James back to the franchise where he played between 2010 and 2014, winning two championships and making four consecutive NBA Finals appearances.
Antetokounmpo pointed to James' familiarity with the organization as another reason why he does not believe a recruiting pitch is necessary.
"He's been in Miami. He knows what Miami is about, and when he's ready, he'll decide."
James has not established a firm timetable for announcing his next team, with agent Rich Paul stressing that the decision will not be rushed.
Miami remains among the prominent potential destinations mentioned during his free agency process.
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