It’s here. The day every Bucks fan feared has finally arrived. Two-time MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time in the Cream City is over.
 

Traded to the Miami Heat, his time in Milwaukee is one of contrasts. Not drawn to the flashy lifestyle and bright lights of bigger stages, time and time again, he chose Milwaukee. He stayed. Stubbornly, almost defiantly willing the powers that be in the NBA sphere to recognize Milwaukee’s potential as a basketball city. He became an ambassador for the city in ways that went so far beyond the basketball court, fostered a relationship with fans and residents alike, all while rejuvenating a franchise begging for relevancy on the national stage.
 

Don’t cry because it’s over, as the old saying goes. And as we begin to come to terms with a new era of Milwaukee Bucks basketball, we’re starting with a trip down memory lane.
 

Here are five places that you can celebrate Giannis’ career in Milwaukee.

A large mural of Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo covers the side of a downtown building. Viewed from behind, he stands with his hands on his hips wearing a green No. 34 jersey with “ANTETOKOUNMPO” across the back. Historic buildings and a partly cloudy sky frame the scene.

Giannis Mural

It will probably be some time before the Greek Freak gets a statue in Milwaukee. He will undoubtedly be commemorated for his time in a Bucks uniform, bringing the team its first MVP in 45 years and first championship in half a century. However, Giannis’ likeness is enshrined in freakish size and larger-than-life proportions, fitting his personality and play over the years, in a 54-foot mural. Painted by local artist Mauricio Ramirez in 2022, the mural is a tribute to Milwaukee’s connection to the star as he overlooks downtown. Find it at 600 East Wisconsin Avenue.

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BelAir Cantina – East Side

Remember when Giannis couldn’t get a table at BelAir Cantina after a playoff game? The much-publicized moment in 2018 drew tons of social media attention following a close, series-tying win against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs (a game in which Giannis put up 27 points). The young rising star quelled the masses with a humbleness that would become his trademark during much of his time in Milwaukee: "I did not find it a big deal,” he said, “It was a long wait, and I decided to leave because my ankle was hurt at the time. I couldn't stand there.” We can’t promise there won’t be a wait this time around, but we can promise that it’s worth it.

Overhead view of a restaurant table featuring several Mediterranean-style dishes. A person uses a fork and knife to cut into a whole baked fish wrapped in grape leaves and parchment paper, surrounded by plates of grilled vegetables, lamb chops with roasted peppers, broccoli, lemon wedges and a bowl of creamy sauce. Sunlight casts long shadows across the table.

Avli

Throughout his time in Milwaukee, Giannis also invested in the community. Whether it is apartments or the Milwaukee Brewers or he and his wife, Mariah’s work with the Milwaukee Diaper Mission or this restaurant in the Brewers Hill neighborhood, his ties with the Cream City  don’t disappear just because he’s playing in another jersey. Opened in 2023, this Brewers Hill restaurant brought a little taste of Greece to Milwaukee. Here, you can find some of the Mediterranean staples like chicken souvlaki and moussaka, alongside the Greek Freak burger, a meatloaf burger with bacon graviera, onion, tomato, lettuce and tirokafteri on a brioche bun.

parade floats in the city, confetti in the air

Chik Fil-A – Brookfield

They did the impossible. The Milwaukee Bucks were NBA champions, Deer District went wild, and the city was partying like it was 1971. Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton couldn’t say how much champagne they’d had, PJ Tucker was out celebrating with fans, but Giannis, well, Giannis celebrated a little differently. It came via an Instagram live video the following morning. The Finals MVP decided to commemorate his 50-point Game 6 performance with 50 chicken nuggets (Exactly 50. Not 49, not 51, 50.) along with a 50-50 mix of Sprite and lemonade. It’s the breakfast of champions and definitely one way to start your day.

A packed crowd fills Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee during an NBA game as flames shoot up from the court during player introductions, with the arena’s large video scoreboard displaying a close-up of a player.

Fiserv Forum

It’s where the statue will go, where all the moments that made a kid from Sepolia into a star. And while it’s not where it all started in Milwaukee, it’s where Giannis will be remembered for some of his finest moments in a Bucks uniform. The 64-point game against the Pacers, his 41 points in 32 minutes against Detroit and, of course, one of the best-ever NBA Finals performances ever. The opening of Fiserv Forum in 2018 was the dawn of a new era of basketball in Milwaukee, one attached to a rising star that would become one of the best NBA players on the planet. There are reminders of Giannis around every corner—34 suites, 34 bathrooms throughout the stadium. It was a stadium that was, in part, built for him, and with it, he constructed a dominant career right here in Milwaukee.

 

It won’t feel the same without Giannis’ trademark No. 34 flying up and down the court next year, but the team will go on. All good things pass. A new generation of talented young Bucks will take their place on the court, and the hunt for another title will begin anew. The sun will come up again tomorrow, a new era of basketball will arrive, and Bucks in Six, always. But for the moment, we commemorate the end of an incredible era, and thank Giannis for all he’s done to make Milwaukee shine.

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