Giannis Explains Importance of Changing Jersey Number After Heat Trade from Bucks in New Video

Miami Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo reiterated his belief a new number should accompany his change of scenery this offseason.

The two-time MVP appeared on his brother's podcast, the Thanalysis Show , and explained why he's wearing No. 7 instead of No. 34 with Miami.

Antetokounmpo said he "had to get closure" after wrapping up his 13-year run on the Milwaukee Bucks. He did, however, leave the door open for switching back to 34.

This matches what the star forward told reporters during his introductory press conference.

"The reason that I really changed my number is because I feel like 34 holds so much weight and has so much history, and out of respect to the organization that drafted me and I played for for 13 years, I decided to leave that number there and try to start a new chapter," he said in July. "Hopefully, I can leave my mark here in Miami and make No. 7 as legendary as No. 34."

Stars will often change numbers through sheer necessity. The jersey was retired or already in circulation with somebody else on the roster.

Neither of those things was a hurdle for Antetokounmpo. A Heat player hasn't worn No. 34 since Ray Allen from 2012-14, and only three others in franchise history have been assigned the jersey.

But it's understandable why, given how much he achieved on the Bucks, Giannis wants No. 34 to be synonymous with his Milwaukee tenure.