One of the few players who can honestly say he is the best in the NBA is Giannis Antetokounmpo. It would make sense to believe that, given his exceptional talent, he developed a childhood love for basketball. However, he only participated in the game because one of his brothers insisted on it. Here’s how Antetokounmpo’s faith in his family brought about a life-changing event.
Growing up, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s favorite sport was
The success of Antetokounmpo extends beyond himself. Every impressive sports achievement, blocked shot, and slam dunk is proof of his family’s love and wisdom. The general plot of Antetokounmpo’s genesis tale is based on contemporary Greek mythology.
His parents left their home Nigeria to raise their sons in poverty after immigrating to Greece. To make ends meet, Antetokounmpo and his three siblings hawked sunglasses and DVDs on the streets of Athens. They occasionally depended on a nearby café owner’s compassion for meals. The Antetokounmpo family used basketball as a means of escaping poverty.
But if the future NBA player had disregarded his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo, this tale would have turned out differently. Of the five Antetokounmpo brothers, Thanasis was the second oldest and persuaded the others that playing basketball would improve their lot in life. The battle ahead was steep.
Soccer was the Antetokounmpo family’s first passion. Francis, the eldest sibling, was a professional player who competed in Greece and Nigeria, while his father, Charles, was also a former player.
However, Giannis clarified to SLAM Magazine that he approved of the plan because he held his brother in such high regard. “Basketball wasn’t my choice,” Giannis declared. Thanasis went with basketball. Thanasis was the star of the show then. It was evident that I looked up to Thanasis since he was the subject of a lot of conversation. I desired to resemble him.
By no means was Giannis a natural. According to the New York Times, his first coach, Spiros Velliniatis, claims that when he initially came to the gym, he was unable to even dribble. However, Giannis used his drive and work ethic to hone his abilities. Following his 2013 NBA draft selection, Giannis expressed his gratitude for his brother’s foresight.
How much better is Thanasis, his brother?
It makes sense that Giannis receives the majority of the focus for his on-court accomplishments, but Thanasis’ career merits consideration in and of itself. He chose not to enlist alongside his brother and stayed in the Greek second division for an additional year with Filathlitikos.
After that, Thanasis was selected by the Delaware 87ers with the ninth overall pick in the NBA D-League Developmental Draft. With a game average of 12 points and 4 rebounds, Thanasis was selected for the D-League’s third all-defensive team. The next year, he was selected in the NBA Draft as a result of his performances.
The New York Knicks selected Thanasis 51st overall. In his one-year tenure, he primarily played for the Westchester Knicks, the organization’s D-League affiliate, but he also made his NBA debut for the team in a game against the Phoenix Suns.
After that experience, the attacker went back to Europe and played for two teams: Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos and MoraBanc Andorra of the Liga ACB in Spain. He left the league after a year. On well-known territory, Thanasis rose to fame. Both of the seasons he participated, the squad took home the Greek Basket League championship, and Thanasis received the MSP (Most Spectacular Player) award twice in a row.
He had the option to remain there and rule. However, Thanasis made the decision to go back to Milwaukee and play with his famous brother in the NBA. Despite appearing in just 18 games this season, he has primarily been a reserve, but that hasn’t stopped him from building his own highlight reel.
No amount of success has altered the Antetokounmpo brothers.
While it’s customary for fame and wealth to alter family dynamics, the Antetokounmpo brothers’ bond remains unbroken. Without a doubt, Giannis is the group’s top basketball player. However, there is no longer any jealousy between them. They all achieve above their wildest expectations, and they take great pride in the journey’s overall accomplishment.
And it’s possible that more Antetokounmpo family members will soon join the NBA. Kostas is a G-League player playing with the South Bay Lakers, while Alex, the younger sibling, is an accomplished high school athlete who also aspires to be an NBA player.
They will remain united no matter what the future holds for the remaining Antetokounmpos.