Giannis Antetokounmpo took a moment to process everything after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals in 2021. Tired after what he and his team had just accomplished, he found a spot to sit courtside and put a palm on his head while tears streamed down his cheeks.
Soon, after 50 years in the making, his young son Liam would accompany him on the floor for a celebration for Milwaukee.
It seemed like that with Antetokounmpo’s most recent basketball accomplishment, which came three years later.
Antetokounmpo is acting on behalf of his nation this time.
In order to secure a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris later this month, Antetokounmpo guided the Greek National Team through two Olympic qualifying matches on Saturday and Sunday. Greece is participating in their first Olympics since 2008.
At the Olympic-clinching game of the FIBA qualifying tournament final in Piraeus, Greece, against Croatia, Antetokounmpo scored 23 points.
After the game, Antetokounmpo’s emotions took over. In a healthy moment between father and his two boys, Liam and his other son, Maverick, joined him on the court.
Liam was carrying a placard on the court that read “Et Voila,” which means “there you go” in French, and “Paris Bound 2024” on the other. Both Liam and Maverick were wearing official Olympic gear.
“I never cheated in a game. Antetokounmpo tweeted on Sunday night, “See you in Paris.”
The Antetokounmpos is coming, Paris.