Giannis Antetokounmpo has put up impressive numbers since joining the Miami Heat, but his new team has yet to record a win. After Monday’s 113-109 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the 0-4 Miami are facing questions over whether their roster is built to make the most of their new star.

NBA Fans Have a Field Day As Giannis Antetokounmpo, Heat Fall to 0-4

Antetokounmpo finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists in what was eventually yet another effort in a losing cause. The defeat followed losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Charlotte Hornets.

That dismal start has left fans questioning and roasting the team’s direction, especially after Miami made a blockbuster move to acquire the 6-foot-11 power forward from the Milwaukee Bucks in July.

One fan wrote: “Imagine being 0-4.”

While another argued: “Giannis and heat front office deserve this.”

The Bucks connection also remained part of the mockery, as one hoops fan claimed: “Milwaukee Bucks are talking [expletive] to the Miami Heat and they can’t do anything about it… The brand has never been lower.”

Another fan went further, predicting: “Giannis requesting a trade by February.”

The jokes also focused on how unusual the start is for the two-time MVP. “Giannis has never started a season 0-4. Until he joined the Miami Heat,” one fan posted.

Despite the criticism, the 10-time NBA All-Star has not suggested that the team is ready to give up.

After the Dallas game, Antetokounmpo said the issues that need to be addressed would be discussed internally and also warned against overreacting to the early results.

“You cannot press the panic button and panic because it’s only going to get worse if you start panicking,” he said. “You just got to keep on playing basketball and you’re going to figure it out. But once you figure it out, you cannot let it go.”

For now, the winless start to the season makes the trade an easy target for jokes, but Antetokounmpo’s individual production suggests he is not the main problem. The 2021 NBA champion scored 35 points against Minnesota and 36 against Detroit before managing 14 against Charlotte.

He bounced back with 29 against Dallas, but his efforts alone have not been enough to overcome Miami’s broader problems, and one obvious concern is 3-point shooting.

Antetokounmpo is most effective attacking the basket, so Miami needs reliable shooters to punish opponents when they collapse into the paint. Instead, Andrew Wiggins, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bam Adebayo have struggled from deep early in the season.

Wiggins and Hardaway Jr. shot below 20% so far, while Adebayo converted just 16.7% of his attempts so far.

The departures of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell have made that problem more significant, as both averaged over 20 points per game last season and shot close to 38% from 3.

Without their scoring and perimeter threat, Miami needs other players to provide consistent offense and prevent defenses from loading up on Antetokounmpo. Adebayo’s slow start compounds the issues as the three-time All-Star scored just 8 points on 3-for-10 shooting against Dallas, averaging 11.8 ppg this season so far.

Miami must find ways to keep Adebayo involved without crowding the driving lanes Antetokounmpo relies on and turn those performances into wins.