The only move more magnanimous than LeBron James leaving the Lakers after eight years to go to Philadelphia was Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to the Miami Heat.
A 2x MVP still in his prime, joining forces with Bam Adebayo and led by Erik Spoelstra, should move the needle by quite a margin. Jeff Teague, however, doesn’t think this will be the case.
Jeff Teague Doesn’t Think Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Surpass Jimmy Butler’s Heat Record
Teague won a title with Antetokounmpo in 2021 on the Bucks and was on the Butler-led Minnesota Timberwolves team that imploded due to a severe lack of chemistry. So, if there’s one former player whose opinion is worth something regarding the two superstars, it’s his.
On his “Club 520 Podcast,” Teague was asked whether he believes Antetokounmpo can live up to what Butler did for South Beach in his five-and-a-half years there.
“I wouldn’t put it past him but right now I’m going to say no,” said Teague. His reasoning? “I think the league and the Eastern Conference is at a different level right now. Those were some impressive runs [by Jimmy] for sure.”
From the standpoint of the East being loaded going into the 2026-27 season, Teague isn’t off-base. The East has the reigning champions New York Knicks, the revamped 76ers and Celtics, and a slew of teams like the Pistons and Cavaliers who are itching for a shot at redemption.
Antetokounmpo certainly has his work cut out for him if he wants to reach the heights that Butler reached with the Heat.
Butler led Miami to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. He also took the Celtics to seven games in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals. His career average with the Heat in the playoffs is 24.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 6.8 rebounds.
After a memorable stint with the Heat, Butler was traded to the Golden State Warriors. However, he has been sidelined with a torn right ACL suffered in January 2026 against the Heat.
While Antetokounmpo is 31 now, he’s fresh off a season where he put up 27.6 points on 62.4% shooting from the field while grabbing 9.8 rebounds a night. He clearly still has it in him to lead a team on both ends of the floor.
Does this mean he’ll match Jimmy’s success of multiple Finals and ECF trips? Perhaps not. On the flipside, he may bring Miami its first championship since LeBron James left well over a decade ago.
