Per Chris Haynes, former Bucks assistant Vin Baker is joining Erik Spoelstra’s staff in Miami, where he will reunite with Giannis. Baker spent eight seasons with the Bucks and had an extremely close relationship with the two-time MVP, so it makes sense that the Heat would want to bring in some familiar faces.
This is especially true since—if ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne is to be believed—the Heat will not be handing out contracts to various Antetokounmpo family members like the Bucks did.
“There won’t be
any more Antetokounmpo brothers in Miami,” Shelburne said. “That whole ‘we have Kostas and Thanasis on the team,’ I don’t think that’s going to continue, from what I understand.”
In any event, Baker and Antetokounmpo grew extremely close not just on the court, but off it. For example, Baker confided in Giannis about his journey overcoming alcohol addiction, which began with him taking a job at Starbucks after his playing career was over to reclaim a sense of routine and discipline.
“He (Antetokounmpo) was in awe that I had made it back from what I had gone through,” Baker told Basketball Network in April. “I didn’t even realise he knew the extent of it.”
As Deolu wrote about earlier this month, the Bucks’ coaching staff is now finalised.
