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How Giannis Antetokounmpo Got From Athens To The Pantheon Of The NBA

Ailsa Chang

Patrick Jarenwattananon

Mano Sundaresan

For the first time in 50 years, the Milwaukee Bucks have won an NBA championship. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Mirin Fader of The Ringer about how forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led them to victory.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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Giannis ANTETOKOUNMPO

Few stories embody the American dream as profoundly as the rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo , who went from the streets of Athens to the NBA courts, becoming an iconic symbol of perseverance and success.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s early years and rise to NBA

Born on December 6, 1994, in Athens to Nigerian immigrants Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo, Giannis grew up in poverty alongside his four brothers. The family faced financial hardship , and the young Antetokounmpo and his siblings had to contribute to the family's income.

"I was selling stuff probably since I could remember, like 6 or 7 years old. I was always out there helping my mom and dad sell watches, glasses, CDs, DVDs, stuff like that. Whatever we could put our hands on. I did it until I was around 17. But I was just doing it because I had to. There was no other option. If we didn't sell that night, we wouldn't have food. Or if we sold, we'd have to think if we're going to pay the rent or buy some food," Giannis recalled in a 2018 ESPN interview .

Despite these challenges, his passion for basketball began to flourish, and his immense talent started to shine. Giannis was spotted by scouts and began his basketball career with the Greek club Filathlitikos . He later gained Greek citizenship, which enabled him to enter the 2013 NBA Draft. The Milwaukee Bucks selected him as the 15th overall pick when he was just 18 years old .

His rapid development in the NBA turned him into one of the league's brightest stars, earning him the nickname " Greek Freak ". Giannis won two consecutive NBA MVP awards and a Finals MVP , ultimately leading the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021.

Standing at an impressive 7 feet tall (2.13m), Giannis also made his mark in international basketball by representing the Greek national team in various major FIBA tournaments.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s film depiction

Off the court, Giannis's unique journey, along with his brother's success in the NBA, was immortalized in the Disney movie " Rise " in 2022. The film retraced the family upbringing in Greece and their rise to stardom. Within the Antetokounmpo family, not only Giannis achieved NBA championship success: his brothers Thanasis and Kostas also earned NBA championship rings. Younger brother Alex has been closely followed by several NBA teams, while older brother Francis enjoyed a successful professional football career in Nigeria and Greece.

His family's captivating story continues to inspire people around the world. Giannis Antetokounmpo's influence extends far beyond his on-court achievements. Together with his brothers, he set up the AntetokounBros Academy in Greece, promoting sports education and providing scholarships to aspiring athletes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s stats and trophies

1x NBA Champion (2021)
5x All-NBA 1st Team (2019-2023)
1x Finals MVP (2021)
2x NBA MVP (2019, 2020)
2x All-NBA 2nd Team (2017, 2018)
All-Defensive 2nd Team (2017)
4x All-Defensive 1st Team (2019-2022)
All-Star MVP (2021)
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
NBA Most Improved Player (2017)
All-Rookie 2nd Team (2014)

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NBA Playoffs

Giannis Antetokounmpo represents everything great about sports

Giannis’ greatness is the only box he fits in.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo always seemed too good to be true. He was the latest international mystery man in the draft when we first learned about him in 2013, a skinny Greek teenager who had seemingly blossomed out to nowhere to become a legitimate first round NBA prospect. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress wrote the first public report on Antetokounmpo while comparing his body to Nicolas Batum and Thabo Sefolosha and his game to how UCLA used Kyle Anderson.

As we learned more about Antetokounmpo, we realized just how incredible his personal story was. The son of Nigerian immigrants, Giannis and his brothers were denied citizenship by the Greek government despite being born in the country. They sold watches and sunglasses in the streets to help their parents make ends meet. Giannis and his older brother Thanasis were playing basketball in a park one day when a coach from Greek basketball academy saw them while riding his bike. He let them join the academy free of charge.

Antetokounmpo was a 6’9 forward with a reported 7’3 wingspan who showed rare comfort handling and passing the ball. He didn’t play against serious competition in the second division of the Greek league, but the outlines for a future MVP were there. The Milwaukee Bucks , with the No. 15 overall pick, took a swing for the fences by drafting him. His story could have ended up like so many other failed international first round picks — Darko Miličić, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, and Jan Veselý just to name a few — but instead Giannis kept growing, both literally and figuratively.

The Bucks were miserable in Antetokounmpo’s rookie year, finishing 15-67 overall. There were some positive signs, though. Antetokounmpo looked comfortable in 77 games after a terrific Summer League run, averaging only 6.8 points but already showing he could compete on an NBA floor. The Bucks also unearthed another pleasant surprise that season: Khris Middleton. The Bucks had acquired Middleton weeks after drafting Antetokounmpo as a throw-in in their Brandon Jennings for Brandon Knight swap with the Pistons. Middleton, a former second round pick, quickly became a starter and ended the year as the team’s third leading scorer by averaging 12.1 points per game.

The Bucks were supposed to acquire their big prize the next year when Antetokounmpo’s rough rookie season landed them the No. 2 overall pick. They had their choice of Duke forward Jabari Parker and injured Kansas center Joel Embiid. The Bucks took Parker, and six weeks into his pro career he tore his ACL. He tore his ACL again two years later, and was off the team by the time his rookie contract expired. This was supposed to be the piece that took Giannis and the Bucks to the next level, but instead it was a bust.

Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo kept getting better. He averaged 12.7 points his second year and 16.9 points per game his third year as head coach Jason Kidd experimented with using him as a point guard (Giannis played point guard 40 percent of the time in his third season, according to Basketball Reference ). The NBA didn’t know exactly what Giannis was supposed to be yet, but it was clear he was on his way to becoming a star.

The biggest factor in Antetokounmpo’s development was how much bigger he got: he had grown at least two inches to 6’11 and was on his way to adding over 40 pounds of muscle. Giannis put in the work to change his body and he was able to carry the extra weight without losing his quickness or explosiveness. He was starting to play with immense force on every possession — not just offensively, but defensively.

Antetokounmpo became a terror in the open court, busting out Eurosteps to unsuspecting defenders as they pleaded for travel calls. Defensively, Giannis’ length and newfound strength added burgeoning rim protecting ability to an already strong perimeter defender. The Bucks snuck into the playoffs three times early in Antetokounmpo’s career, but couldn’t get past the first round.

Everything changed when Mike Budenholzer was hired ahead of the 2018-19 season. Suddenly, the Bucks went from plucky upstarts to the team with the best record in the NBA. Antetokounmpo had gone from an emerging young star to a 24-year-old MVP who now had a case as the best player in the world.

Milwaukee blitzed the league with a 60-22 record in Coach Bud’s first season by unleashing Antetokounmpo to his full potential. He became a defensive anchor near the paint who could erase any mistake on the perimeter by his teammates. Offensively, Antetokounmpo put the pedal to the floor on every possession, charging hard to the basket through contact while still having the touch and poise to finish. Middleton was coming into his own at the same time as a 6’8 forward who had developed into one of the league’s best pure shooters. Brook Lopez was signed to a bargain contract and transformed his game from post scorer to three-point shooter to give Giannis more room on his drives.

Something special was brewing in Milwaukee, but like so many other basketball deities before him, Giannis had to take his lumps in the playoffs first. The Bucks started the 2019 playoffs at 10-1 and took a 2-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 3 went into double overtime, the Bucks lost, and Antetokounmpo finished with only 12 points in 45 minutes. Toronto would go on to win the next three games to eliminate the Bucks in shocking fashion.

Antetokounmpo won another MVP and led the Bucks to the NBA’s best record again the next year. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, and when the NBA came back after a nearly five-month pause, Giannis and the Bucks found themselves in a bubble. The Bucks drew the Miami Heat in round two, an opponent uniquely equipped to matchup with them thanks to a brilliant coach and a long, strong roster. The Bucks lost the first three games, and Antetokounmpo was injured in Game 4 before Miami completed a stunning gentleman’s sweep.

At this point, the shine surrounding Giannis started to wear off. He was a great regular season player who couldn’t get it done in the playoffs. James Harden famously said he had no skill . It didn’t matter what Antetokounmpo accomplished during the regular season this year: he wasn’t winning his third straight MVP after consecutive playoff failures.

Speculation over Giannis’ impending free agency had reached a fever pitch. LeBron James and Kevin Durant both left the small market organizations that drafted them because they didn’t have enough help to win a championship. Antetokounmpo could have said the same thing about the Bucks. Instead, he signed a five-year max extension just before the season. Whether he would eventually win a title or not, he was going to try to do it on his own terms.

As a superteam formed in Brooklyn mid-season, the Bucks became something of an afterthought. They took their foot off the gas in the regular season, experimenting with different defensive strategies and integrating new guard Jrue Holiday at the expense of some regular season wins. After finishing with the league’s best record in consecutive seasons, seven teams ended up winning more games than the Bucks before the playoffs, including two teams in their own conference. Antetokounmpo finished fourth in MVP voting.

Unlike the previous two seasons, the Bucks entered this year’s playoffs without overwhelming expectations. Antetokounmpo’s extension had taken away some of the immediate urgency. Not making it out of the East wouldn’t be seen as a failure anymore, not with three veteran superstars teaming up on the Nets while the 76ers coalesced into conference power.

For once, Giannis and the Bucks had room to breathe. It might have been the best thing that ever happened to them.

2021 NBA Finals - Phoenix Suns v. Milwaukee Bucks

Every NBA champion needs good fortune to raise a banner. You can of course say the same about the Bucks.

After avenging their playoff loss to the Heat in the first round with a decisive sweep, the Bucks met the Nets in the second round. In the first minute of the first game, Harden went down with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the first four games of the series. Brooklyn still went up 2-0 on their home floor and seemed to have the Bucks on their way to a second straight second round exit. Then Kyrie Irving got hurt in Game 4 and never returned.

The Bucks forced a Game 7 in Brooklyn. Durant capped an incredible game with a game-tying shot in the final seconds of regulation that would have been the game-winner if his foot wasn’t on the three-point line. The Bucks won in overtime and kept their championship dream alive.

On the other side of the Eastern Conference bracket, the Atlanta Hawks upset the Sixers. The Hawks stole Game 1 of the conference finals in Milwaukee, but the Bucks would take the next two. In Game 4, Antetokounmpo suffered a scary leg injury and immediately exited. After so many injuries to superstars in this postseason, it sure felt like the worst case scenario was on the table. The Hawks won to tie the series with Giannis sidelined, but Middleton and Holiday powered wins in the next two games. The Bucks were in the Finals.

The Phoenix Suns had their own luck on the other side of the bracket. Phoenix knocked out the defending champion Lakers in the first round after Anthony Davis suffered an injury late in the series. They swept a Jamal Murray-less Denver Nuggets team in round two. They beat the Clippers in the conference finals after Kawhi Leonard partially tore his ACL. Both the Suns and Bucks were legitimately great teams, but it’s impossible know if they would have advanced to the Finals against a fully healthy field that wasn’t set against the backdrop of a pandemic.

Antetokounmpo entered the series doubtful to play in Game 1. Hours before tip-off, he was upgraded to questionable. After suffering an injury many believed would bleed into next year, Giannis was in the starting lineup for the first game of the Finals. He didn’t look like he was 100 percent, but he still played 35 minutes and finished +1 in a game the Suns won by 13 points.

Milwaukee’s only chance was for Giannis to fully return to form and assert himself as the best player in the series. That’s exactly what happened.

Giannis’ performance in the Finals was nothing short of remarkable.

He finished with 42 points on 15-of-22 shooting in Game 2, but the Suns still won to take a 2-0 lead. As the series came to Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo was even better: he put up 41 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists in a decisive Game 3 victory that gave the Bucks’ a puncher’s chance.

In Game 4, Antetokounmpo sealed the win with one of the best blocks you will ever see on an alley-oop meant for Deandre Ayton. In Game 5, he helped deliver an even more incredible play when he slammed home a lob off Holiday’s tremendous steal in the final seconds. The Bucks had won three straight games and now had a chance to end the series on their floor in Game 6 on Tuesday night. Giannis already had two defining plays and a gaudy stat line during these Finals, but he saved his best for last.

It is no exaggeration to say Giannis played one of the great games in NBA history to carry the Bucks in Game 6. On a night when Holiday couldn’t make a basket and Middleton struggled to get open, Antetokounmpo absolutely dominated the game on both offense and defense. With the Bucks trailing by seven points at halftime, Giannis put up 20 points in the third quarter while deterring so many Suns scoring opportunities with his help defense.

He brought home the win in the fourth quarter by overcoming his biggest weakness: free throw shooting. After shooting about 55 percent from the foul line throughout the playoffs, Antetokounmpo somehow made 17-of-19 free throws in the biggest game of his career.

The end result: 50 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks, and Milwaukee’s first NBA championship since 1971.

Giannis’ greatness has never fit into a box.

He was drafted as a nominal small forward, but he was always the type of player who never really had a position. While the Bucks used him to initiate offense on the perimeter from the early days of his career, his massive growth spurt after entering the league made him something closer to a big man.

We know what big men look like and we know how they score. Antetokounmpo didn’t conform to those norms. While Hakeem Olajuwon had deft footwork in the post, Giannis mastered his footwork in the open floor. While Shaq unleashed his power after planting himself deep in the paint, Giannis backed up 30-feet away from the hoop to get a running start before unfurling his force. While NBA fans pleaded with Budenholzer to use Giannis as a roll man, the Bucks preferred to put him in space and let him attack.

As it happened, it became easy to see the holes Giannis had in his game. He didn’t have a three-point shot in a league obsessed with three-pointers. He struggled to shoot free throws. His ball handling ability never fully leveled up. Instead, Giannis was said to succeed because he was simply bigger and faster than everyone. That led to jealousy from his peers and confusion from some fans who could only see greatness through the lens of how Michael Jordan and (to a lesser extent) Kobe Bryant accomplished it.

Giannis was said to have ‘no bag’ — the ultimate diss for a hooper. While some saw a lack of crossovers and pull-up jumpers, Antetokounmpo’s skill showed up in different ways. It often felt like his apparent lack of appreciation from other NBA stars was because he wasn’t from America and had no interest in running in the same cliques as they did.

The discussion about Antetokounmpo’s skill level missed several key points. For one, he had become the best defensive player in the world, someone with a length and quickness of prime Kawhi Leonard on the perimeter with the shot blocking ability of Rudy Gobert near the basket. It also discounted how hard this man played. Giannis never took off a single possession on either end of the floor and established himself one of the most competitive athletes on Earth. The questioning of his offensive game was wildly out of place, too. He just averaged 35.2 points per game on 61.1 percent shooting from the field in the NBA Finals , in a series some feared he wouldn’t even play in against a team that was favored to beat his Bucks.

Giannis’ greatness is a testament to his incredible work ethic to go from a skinny teenager to a physical freak. He should be held up on a pedestal for his motor. The fact that he committed long-term to the small market team that drafted him rather than running away to play with other superstars makes this championship even more meaningful.

Antetokounmpo’s awards cabinet is filling up. He’s two-time MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, the winner of the Most Improved Player, a five-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA selection, and a four-time All-Defense selection. Now he can add an NBA championship and a Finals MVP. He’s still only 26 years old.

We are watching one of the greatest athletes of this generation in any sport in the prime of his career. He is an immigrant who found a new home in Milwaukee after not even knowing where it was when he got drafted. He does it all with a humble approach that is devoid of ego. His press conferences were almost as good as his play during the games in the NBA Finals.

Basketball is now a global game, and Giannis is a global icon. He represents the dream of how sports can change anyone’s life. He plays the game the right way, giving all he’s got on every possession. He doesn’t run away from challenges.

A championship was always going to elevate Giannis into the land of legends, and the way he did it will define his career forever. What a story, and what a player. For once, something that always felt too good to be true actually lived up to the hype.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo

Pronunciation : \YAHN-iss ah-dedo-KOON-bo\

Giannis Antetokounmpo ▪ Twitter : Giannis_An34 ▪ Instagram: Giannis_An34

(The Greek Freak, The Alphabet)

Position: Power Forward, Small Forward, Point Guard, and Shooting Guard ▪ Shoots: Right

6-11 , 242lb (211cm, 109kg)

Born: December 6 , 1994 in Athens, Greece gr

Relatives : Brothers Thanasis Antetokounmpo , Kostas Antetokounmpo , Alex Antetokounmpo

Draft: Milwaukee Bucks , 1st round (15th pick, 15th overall), 2013 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: October 30, 2013

Experience: 10 years

8x All Star
2021 NBA Champ
2013-14 All-Rookie
5x All-Defensive
2016-17 Most Improved
2019-20 Def. POY
2020-21 AS MVP
2020-21 Finals MVP
NBA 75th Anniv. Team

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2023-24 Bucks (49-33, 3rd place in NBA Eastern Conference)

Last Game : W 115-92 vs. IND

Next Game : Thursday, May. 2 at IND

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Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Malik Beasley
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Danilo Gallinari
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Next Game: Thursday, May 2nd vs IND ( Giannis Antetokounmpo Stats vs. IND ) More: Game Log • Advanced Game Log • Splits • Shooting • Lineups • On-Off

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Day To Day (Soleus) - Antetokounmpo is DOUBTFUL for Thursday's (May. 2) game against Indiana. (Updated May.1, 2024)

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Play-by-play data available for the 1996-97 through 2023-24 seasons.
Shot location data available for the 1996-97 through 2023-24 seasons.
Click Season link for player's season game log Click value for box score or list of games Search Giannis Antetokounmpo's game log history
Most similar performance arc through 10 seasons ( Explanation )
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June 27, 2013 : Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round (15th pick) of the 2013 NBA Draft.

July 30, 2013 : Signed a multi-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks .

September 20, 2016 : Signed a multi-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks .

August 12, 2020 : Suspended by the league. (1-game suspension)

December 15, 2020 : Signed a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks .

October 23, 2023 : Signed a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks .

Player Option , Team Option · NBA Contracts Summary
Signed 5-yr/$228M veteran extension.
Signed 4-yr/$100M extension on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 .
Team option for 2016-17 exercised on Monday, October 26, 2015.
Signed Tuesday, July 30, 2013.

How old is Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Giannis Antetokounmpo is 29 years old.

Where was Giannis Antetokounmpo born?

Giannis Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece.

When was Giannis Antetokounmpo born?

Giannis Antetokounmpo was born on December 6, 1994.

How tall is Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Giannis Antetokounmpo is 6-11 (211 cm) tall.

How much does Giannis Antetokounmpo weigh?

Giannis Antetokounmpo weighs 242 lbs (109 kg).

Is Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Hall of Fame?

Giannis Antetokounmpo is not in the Hall of Fame.

When was Giannis Antetokounmpo drafted?

Giannis Antetokounmpo was drafted by Milwaukee Bucks , 1st round (15th pick, 15th overall), 2013 NBA Draft .

What position does Giannis Antetokounmpo play?

Power Forward, Small Forward, Point Guard, and Shooting Guard.

What is Giannis Antetokounmpo's net worth?

Giannis Antetokounmpo has made at least $190,452,602 playing professional basketball.

How much does Giannis Antetokounmpo make?

Giannis Antetokounmpo made $42,492,492 in 2023.

What does Giannis Antetokounmpo average?

Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.

How many rings does Giannis Antetokounmpo have?

Giannis Antetokounmpo has won one championship.

What is Giannis Antetokounmpo's Twitter account?

Giannis Antetokounmpo is on Twitter at Giannis_An34 .

What is Giannis Antetokounmpo's Instagram account?

Giannis Antetokounmpo is on Instagram at Giannis_An34 .

What are Giannis Antetokounmpo's nicknames?

The Greek Freak, The Alphabet are nicknames for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Book Excerpt

Giannis Is What Happens When N.B.A. Dreams Come True

In a book excerpt, a writer explores how Giannis Antetokounmpo coped with a new life away from Greece, new shoes and a relatable foe: cable bills.

By Mirin Fader

The following are excerpts from “Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP” by Mirin Fader. They have been edited and condensed from a chapter titled “Lonely.” The book will be released Tuesday. Fader is a staff writer at The Ringer. She has also written for Bleacher Report’s B/R Mag, the Orange County Register and Slam magazine.

Each morning, Giannis Antetokounmpo would take one last look at the master bedroom in his apartment. He’d make sure the pillows were perfectly fluffed, just in case his parents would somehow arrive in the United States from Greece later in the day. He’d head to the Cousins Center, the Milwaukee Bucks’ practice facility, hope humming inside him.

Maybe today my family will be approved , he’d think, walking from the parking lot into the building. He’d lace up his sneakers next to his cubby, which was always immaculate, organized, as if his parents might turn up and inspect it.

Then he’d find John Hammond, the Bucks’ general manager. “Any word on my family?” Antetokounmpo would ask. “How long until they will be here?”

Immigration officials had denied the family’s visa request twice by this point, but the Bucks kept pushing. Hammond told Antetokounmpo that he didn’t have an answer yet. He would have to keep waiting, keep being patient.

But every day without his family pierced him. Made him rethink everything he’d endured to reach his rookie season in the N.B.A. He wondered if it was all worth it: the grueling hours in the weight room, adding at least 30 pounds of muscle in mere months, getting smacked in the paint day after day, crumpling to the floor.

The dream Antetokounmpo had constructed in his head, mesmerized by the braids of Allen Iverson, the jumpers of Kevin Durant, didn’t look like this, didn’t feel like this. He had always imagined being here but never once considered his family would be there .

Without him.

He was more than homesick, more than frustrated. For the first time in his life, he was deeply lonely. Lost.

Antetokounmpo would Skype with his family early in the morning or late at night because of the eight-hour time difference. One night, around November 2013, frustrated with his family’s inability to obtain visas, Antetokounmpo told them, “I’m going to do this for as long as I have to, but if y’all can’t come, I’m coming back.”

His brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alex were floored. “Obviously, we didn’t want him to come back,” Alex Antetokounmpo said, “but it meant the world to know that he’s loyal to us.”

Giannis relayed a similar message to his agents, telling them that the only reason he wanted to play in the N.B.A. was to provide a better life for his family. Without them, what reason was there to remain in America?

Giannis also felt a little guilty. Guilty at all he was enjoying, all he was learning, when people back home still didn’t have much. Wherever he was, his mind often traveled: here, there. Here, there. America, Greece, America, Greece.

Giannis could compartmentalize well, from years of masking his pain. Pretending that his stomach was not growling. Pretending that he wasn’t unsure where he and his family might be sleeping the next month. But Milwaukee was a different challenge.

To make matters worse, the Bucks were awful. Will-we-even-reach-double-digit-total-wins-this-season awful. They were a young team, with many players in their early 20s. Team morale was at an all-time low. “I was so excited to get traded to Charlotte halfway through,” guard Luke Ridnour said. “It was just depressing. Everything was bad.”

All hell broke loose when center Larry Sanders broke his thumb, getting into a fistfight in a nightclub, throwing a champagne bottle, adding to the perception of the Bucks as completely dysfunctional. It was humiliating for Sanders, who had just signed a four-year, $44 million contract extension.

Injuries mounted. D.J. Stephens, a reserve guard, remembered someone saying on the bench: “There’s $60 million just sitting there at the end of the bench. Can’t even play because they’re hurt.” He had to laugh — things were so bad.

It didn’t help that it was the year of the Arctic polar vortex, the coldest on record in two decades in Milwaukee. The temperature dropped below zero 24 times, and the windchill was characterized as “life-threatening,” with values as low as 60 degrees below zero. Experts warned of potential frostbite to anyone who stepped outside with uncovered skin.

The cold was a big adjustment for Antetokounmpo. He didn’t own warm clothes at first. He had only the Bucks sweatsuits, which he wore every day. Forward Ersan Ilyasova gave him a pair of jeans, as did guard O.J. Mayo and forward Caron Butler. But he would wear just a light down jacket or sweatshirt and sweats on those frigid Milwaukee days. Sometimes Antetokounmpo would hold on to the arm of Ross Geiger, an assistant video coordinator, when walking because he was shivering, wearing Nike slides with socks rather than snow boots.

One night, as they were leaving the Cheesecake Factory near 11 p.m., a heavy snow was falling, the beginning of a blizzard. Inches and inches of snow had already piled up outside as Antetokounmpo and Geiger headed to the car. The windshield wipers furiously whipped back and forth, but the snow pelted down so hard Geiger couldn’t see. At all .

Geiger pulled over. “Don’t pull over,” Antetokounmpo said. “We keep going.” Antetokounmpo, still buckled into his seat, took his right arm, towel in hand, and lunged forward and stretched his massive wingspan all the way over to Geiger’s side, serving as a human windshield wiper, cleaning each side every 30 seconds. Geiger could see enough to make it home.

“We can’t ever do that again ,” Geiger said.

Geiger realized he had crossed a threshold: He had gained Antetokounmpo’s trust, something Antetokounmpo still allows few to do. As a child, Antetokounmpo learned that trusting people was dangerous. Trusting people could let others see that there was vulnerability in him. But maybe it was OK that Geiger saw that. Maybe it was OK to truly let someone see him .

Antetokounmpo kept letting bits of himself spill out as time wore on. Once, he and Geiger were walking to see a movie at a local mall and Christmas music was playing. Antetokounmpo broke out in song, singing each word perfectly.

“It’s all English,” Geiger said. “How do you know the words to this song?” “Oh,” Antetokounmpo said. “Growing up, me and my brothers would go door-to-door and Christmas carol for extra money.”

Memories like that would prick Antetokounmpo at random moments. When he would be walking down the street. Warming up for practice. Putting on his worn-down sneakers. For a moment, he was back in his Sepolia neighborhood in Athens. Back on the side of the road, a child trying to smile, hoping the sunglasses he dangled in the wind would go for three euros instead of two.

What if we all went to sleep and woke up and we were back where we started?

The thought would pop into Antetokounmpo’s head at any moment. His brothers’ too. They would often joke to each other about the possibility, laughing hard over Skype. But underneath the laughter was fear.

It didn’t help that people back in Greece began to look at the family differently. Alex Antetokounmpo remembered people looking at him strangely, thinking, “Oh, he’s acting different because his brother got drafted.” They’d text him to play basketball, and if he missed the text or wouldn’t respond in time, they’d text him, “Oh, you can’t hang out because your brother’s in the N.B.A.?” It infuriated him. “I was the same person as I was before,” he said.

His friends didn’t understand how precarious Giannis’s situation felt. Yes, he was in the N.B.A. right now, but what about tomorrow?

That was particularly terrifying for Giannis, because the second he signed his contract with Milwaukee, he became the patriarch of his family. His dad always would be, in essence, but Giannis became the provider . Everything that happened to them from then on was on his shoulders. His back. His wallet.

He wanted that responsibility. So he was hesitant to spend money and thought deeply about each purchase. “He didn’t want to spend a dime,” said Brandon Knight, the Bucks guard. Once, Antetokounmpo turned on his TV, and it wouldn’t power on. He called Geiger. “My TV’s not working.” Geiger figured it out: Antetokounmpo hadn’t paid his cable bill. “My bill?” Antetokounmpo said, surprised. “How much is it?” It was only $20 a month. “Oh, I’m not paying that,” Antetokounmpo said. He didn’t.

He couldn’t believe that the Bucks provided tables of food before and after practice. Platters of pasta. Energy bars. Chicken. Gatorade. Chips. For free . After everyone had taken theirs, he would fill up four or five plastic containers of the food to take home. His teammates would look at him strangely, unsure why he was hoarding food.

“Giannis,” Robert Hackett, the strength and conditioning coach, would tell him, pulling him aside. “Don’t worry. There’s more.”

But how could Antetokounmpo be sure? More was wishful thinking. He had always aimed for enough . One bad selling day, one mishap, could lead to not enough. He couldn’t turn off that fear of not enough.

There were a lot of things he didn’t think he needed. He would give away new gear to the Bucks ball kids if he had multiple sets of something, like socks or shirts. He rarely spent anything on himself.

Which is why he felt guilty, seeing a new PlayStation at a Best Buy one afternoon. It was nearly $400, but he wanted it. Really badly. And he could afford it. He kept staring at it, trying to decide what to do.

You know we can’t get that.

He was back in Athens. Back on the street. A child again. Sunglasses in hand, suppressing want . Focusing on need . Reminding his younger brothers: You know we can’t get that .

But on an impulse, he bought the PlayStation that day in Milwaukee.

The guilt suffocated him. He chastised himself for the rash decision. How could he be so frivolous? What was happening to him? He hadn’t earned anything yet. “He felt like he was spending too much money,” Alex said.

He returned the PlayStation the next morning.

Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo’s sneakers were falling apart. They started to show the wear and tear of bulldozing his way to the basket. Falling down some possessions. He had been wearing one pair of sneakers the entire time, the first five months of the season.

Yes: a single pair. A plain-Jane Nike sneaker: white with a red swoosh and red heel. Not a pair of Kobes. Not a pair of K.D.s. Most N.B.A. players wear a different pair every game. Hell, every practice . They had fashion statements to make, brands to endorse. Antetokounmpo was just grateful to have a pair at all . One he didn’t have to share with Thanasis.

The sweat that would soak up in the heel? His. The jagged tears down the seams? His. The worn, faded gray laces? His. So he was going to use the pair until it couldn’t be used anymore.

Jay Namoc, the Bucks’ equipment manager from 2012 to 2017, gave him that first pair of Nikes and kept trying to give him new pairs, especially when Antetokounmpo started to slide on the court when the shoe began to age. Antetokounmpo might as well have been playing on a dust-ridden court, given how little grip remained on his soles.

But he wanted this pair to last forever. He became emotional when the shoes were so decrepit, so thin, that he finally accepted he could no longer use them. “He would look at those shoes with a lot of sadness,” Namoc said.

Antetokounmpo would wear only two pairs his entire rookie season. He was given plenty — 82, to be exact, a pair per game. Though he didn’t want to wear them, Antetokounmpo wanted to take all 82 home with him. “They’re not going to fit in your apartment,” Josh Oppenheimer, a Bucks assistant coach, told him.

“I want my house to look like ‘MTV Cribs,’ ” Antetokounmpo said. Truth is, he was saving the shoes for his brothers. Hoping they’d one day obtain visas, one day be able to come to Milwaukee. Run up the court, know the exhilarating feeling of breaking in a brand-new shoe.

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Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping professional, collegiate and amateur athletics..

Women’s Pro Hockey League: The fledgling league is booming — except in New York, where the team is in last place . But the players haven’t given up.

Aaron Rodgers’s Achilles’ Heel: The N.F.L. great was supposed to be the Jets’ savior. But since arriving in New York, he has spent more time voicing conspiracy theories than playing quarterback.

A Key to Knicks’ Season: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo have been buddies since college , a situation that those who study the workplace say can foster success.

The Future of College Sports: A National Labor Relations Board testimony, now in the hands of a judge, could have wide-ranging consequences — positive and negative — for athletes and their institutions.

Voice of Problem Gambling: Craig Carton, the bombastic sports broadcaster, shows a different side on a weekly show that focuses on the stories of gambling addicts like himself.

American Pizazz Meets Sumo: At Madison Square Garden, New Yorkers got a rare look at an ancient Japanese sport , cheering and booing as though they were watching a Yankees game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography Facts, Childhood And Personal Life

Giannis Antetokounmpo in action for Milwaukee Bucks

Reputable for his sturdy figure, speed and athleticism, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a Greek professional basketball player, is indeed one of the top NBA stars currently imprinting their names in the game of basketball. This Greek basketball star with a tricky name is a formidable foe as well as a key ally on the courts—his accurate passes, aggressive tackles, explosive shoots and coordinated steals speaks for his wits and style of play which is peculiar to him. We insightfully consider the rise of this NBA player to stardom, in our Giannis Antetokounmpo biography facts, childhood and personal life.

Table of Contents

Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography Facts

Giannis antetokounmpo childhood and early life.

Three years after his parents emigrated from Lagos, Nigeria, leaving behind their first son, Thanasis, Giannis Antetokounmpo was birthed in Greece. He is the second of four kids (sons) given birth to by his parents. Despite being born in Greece, Antetokounmpo and his siblings didn’t qualify for Greek citizen as a result of Greece laws. Antetokounmpo’s parents immigrated to Greece for better employment opportunities, but upon arriving at Greece they were faced with the same issue of unemployment. As a result, Antetokounmpo and his brother, hawked bags, watches, and sunglasses to help meet their family’s financial needs.

Antetokounmpo began playing basketball in 2007. In 2009, he was actively involved in the game, playing for the youth team of Greek side Filathlitikos. Antetokounmpo continued to rise up in the ranks at Filathlitikos, which saw him join the senior team in 2011.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Basketball Career

Filathlitikos (2012–2013).

After joining Filathlitikos senior team, Antetokounmpo played in Greece’s semi-pro league as well as Greek 3rd Division. In the 2012 season, Antetokounmpo played in the Greek A2 league, Greece’s 2nd-tier basketball league. At the age of 18, in December 2012, Antetokounmpo signed a four-year contract with Spanish side CCAI Zaragoza despite interest from other clubs such as Barcelona and Efes. For the remainder of the season, Antetokounmpo played for Greek side Filathlitikos, where he recorded an average of 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26 games.

Though Antetokounmpo, was not part of the all-star team, he was picked to participate in the 2013 Greek League All-Star games.

Milwaukee Bucks (2013–present)

In April 2013, Antetokounmpo entered the 2013 NBA Draft. He was a first-round pick when the Milwaukee Bucks picked him as its fifteenth overall pick. He signed his rookie contract with the bucks in July 2013. Antetokounmpo’s NBA debut season was a success as he topped the NBA rookie block chart with 61 blocks. As a result, he was picked to participate in the 2013 Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend. He was also named to the 2013–14 NBA All-Rookie second team.

In October 2014, the Milwaukee Bucks extended Antetokounmpo contract till the 2015/16 season. Antetokounmpo was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week in February 2015, his first Player of the week honours. He also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest that year. In the 2015/16 season, Antetokounmpo participated in the NBA Africa Exhibition game where he represented his country of origin, Nigeria. That season, the Milwaukee Bucks extended his contract till the 2016/17 season. He also set a new Bucks record at the age of 21, when he earned the first triple-bound of his career to become the youngest Bucks player to do so.

The 2016/17 season saw Antetokounmpo sign a four-year contract extension with Milwaukee Bucks worth $100 million. He further proved his worth again, when he earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honours in December. He also earned his first Eastern Conference Player of the Month honour during the season. On January 6, Antetokounmpo matched the longest streak by a Milwaukee Bucks player after scoring nothing less than 20 points in 14 successive games. Antetokounmpo was among the players who started on the Eastern-Conference All-Star team at the 2017 All-Star Game, this becoming the first Greek NBA All-Star and the youngest Milwaukee Bucks player to be featured as a starter in an All-Star Game. That season also saw Antetokounmpo become the first NBA player to finish the season in the top 20 spots in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. His success earned him a spot in the All-NBA second team. He also received the NBA Most Improved Player Honor, which made him the first Milwaukee Bucks player to earn the honour.

The first week of the 2017/18 season, saw Antetokounmpo earn the Eastern Conference Player of the Week honour. He also matches Shaquille O’Neal’s longest streak in the NBA after scoring nothing less than 20 points in 27 successive games. He was named as a starter to the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.

In the 2018/19 season, Antetokounmpo was named Eastern Conference Player of the month as a result of his performance in games played between October 22-28 of that season. He also repeated the feat in November. Antetokounmpo was thus awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the Month Honors for October and November of the 2018/19 season. Antetokounmpo seemed to be pushing himself past his limits as he earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month Honor in December, which led to him receiving Player of the Month in December. As a result of his impressive form, he was named Euroscar European Player of the Year. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they suffered defeat at the hands of Toronto Raptors .

National Team Career

Antetokounmpo debuted for Greece National team at the 2013 FIBA Europe U-20 Championship. He debuted for the Greek senior National team at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He also helped the Greek side to an impressive outing at the 2015 Eurobasket where they were eliminated by eventual champions, Spain the quarter-final. He also participated with the Greek National team at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where they were defeated by Croatia.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Personal Life

Antetokounmpo name was originally Adetokunko which means “the crown has returned home”. The name Antetokounmpo stuck after Greek official wrongly spelt his father’s name.
His father, Charles died in 2017 at the age of 54.
His mother Veronica, named Antetokounmpo, a Nigerian name, Ougko.
His father is of the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria while his mother is of the Igbo tribe.
Antetokounmpo brothers are active basketball players. He was teammates with his brothers, Thanasis and Kostas at Filathlitikos.
Antetokounmpo and his elder brother Thanasis served a reduced three-month mandatory military service common to Greek citizens.
Antetokounmpo is currently dating Mariah Riddlesprigger.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Highlights, Achievements and Awards

NBA All-Star (2017–2019)
All-NBA First Team (2019)
All-NBA Second Team (2017, 2018)
NBA All-Defensive First Team (2019)
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2017)
NBA Most Improved Player (2017)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2014)
Euroscar European Player of the Year (2018)

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About The Author

SportyTell Editors

This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. This is just one of these examples. This is why you don't see just one author for this article.

Mirin Fader's new biography, " Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP ," is an inspiring story not of basketball and celebrity but of family and dreams — as well as a masterclass on sports reporting.

As if NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn't already a household name — a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player who just led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA Championship since 1971 — Fader's words put context behind his legend, for readers of all interests (even for those outside basketball fandom).

The book is about Giannis the human rather than Giannis the basketball player. In both the biography and in Giannis's real life, sport comes second to family. Giannis's brothers, parents, inner circle — they provide the stakes, a human texture — and move the narrative forward much more than his on-the-court achievements.

"Giannis" is about people more than it's about basketball

Most sports followers have heard how "the Greek Freak" endured a difficult childhood of poverty before becoming a "rags-to-riches" hero. A kid who went from selling trinkets on the streets of Greece to the bright lights of the NBA. The rise of an international sports hero.

That summary, while inspiring, pales next to the complete and poignant account provided in "Giannis."

With extraordinary detail and well-paced prose, Fader makes this story visceral, touching, and memorable; her book is nothing short of a triumph. A wide-ranging, definitive portrait of Giannis — the man, brother, son, friend, provider, and role model.

Touching anecdotes of the humble soul abound. Like how Giannis, even after becoming wealthy as an NBA rookie, could not believe the team provided free food after practices.

"Platters of pasta. Energy bars. Chicken. Gatorade. Chips. For free," Fader writes. "After everyone had taken theirs, he would fill up four or five plastic containers of the food to take home. His teammates would look at him strangely, unsure why he was hoarding food."

Or how Giannis was willing to quit his NBA career and return to Greece if his entire family couldn't move to the US to live with him: "... every day without his family pierced him. He wondered if it was all worth it… he had always imagined being here but never once considered his family would be there [Greece]."

A masterclass in sports reporting

The book places Fader's meticulousness and range as a reporter on full display. She cites Greek newspaper clippings, makes obscure historical references about the city of Milwaukee and sports history, and thoughtfully writes on race and identity in Greece.

The notes section explains how she conducted 221 interviews for the book, many of which required Greek-to-English translators. She interviews family members, former teammates, childhood friends and coaches, and even basketball fans.

For some writers, such a massive collection of voices puts them at risk of stacking together an incoherent jumble, with inconsistencies in tone and timeline. Fader, however, leverages the range of perspectives to create a complete and rich narrative that is as easy to read as it is entertaining (once I started, I couldn't put the book down).

Nothing feels redundant; the story feels well-rounded and organized.

Unlike Roland Lazenby's celebrated basketball biographies, " Michael Jordan: The Life" and "Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant ," Fader's "Giannis." includes no blemishes about the subject of study. No legal or marital troubles; no gambling addiction. Character flaws in the protagonist are conspicuously absent.

It's a story of a seemingly unending string of obstacles — poverty, hunger, racism, tragedy — but everything contributes to Giannis's character, and Fader portrays him as a pristine figure.

The timing could not be better because the book came out after the Milwaukee Bucks 2021 NBA Championship. The 2022 paperback edition will surely include new reporting from their winning playoff run.

"Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP" by Mirin Fader is an achievement in sportswriting and a brilliant biography that captures not only one of history's best basketball players but one of the most humble, grounded, and driven individuals to meet the public eye.

Watch: An NBA ref explains the difference between flopping and selling a call

Main content

Giannis antetokounmpo nba playoff history, stats, appearances and record, share this article.

The postseason stats for Giannis Antetokounmpo are available below, for those who want to know how he has performed in the playoffs throughout his NBA career.

Antetokounmpo’s NBA playoff apex to date came in 2021, when he won his one and only championship with the Milwaukee Bucks .

Giannis Antetokounmpo Playoff History

Playoff Stats: 79 GP | 26.6 PPG | 12.0 RPG | 5.2 APG
Playoff Series Record: 8-7
Playoff Record: 46-38
Playoff Appearances: 8
Play-In Appearances: 0
Conference Finals Appearances: 2
NBA Finals Appearances: 1
Championships: 1

Giannis Antetokounmpo Playoff Appearances

2023: milwaukee bucks.

Playoff Stats: 3 GP | 23.3 PPG | 11.0 RPG | 5.3 APG
Final Series: Lost 4-1 to the Miami Heat
Exit Round: First Round

2022: Milwaukee Bucks

Playoff Stats: 12 GP | 31.7 PPG | 14.2 RPG | 6.8 APG
Final Series: Lost 4-3 to the Boston Celtics
Exit Round: Conference Semifinals

2021: Milwaukee Bucks

Playoff Stats: 21 GP | 30.2 PPG | 12.8 RPG | 5.1 APG
Final Series: Beat the Phoenix Suns 4-2
Final Round: NBA Finals

2020: Milwaukee Bucks

Playoff Stats: 9 GP | 26.7 PPG | 13.8 RPG | 5.7 APG

2019: Milwaukee Bucks

Playoff Stats: 15 GP | 25.5 PPG | 12.2 RPG | 4.9 APG
Final Series: Lost 4-2 to the Toronto Raptors
Exit Round: Conference Finals

2018: Milwaukee Bucks

Playoff Stats: 7 GP | 25.7 PPG | 9.6 RPG | 6.3 APG

2017: Milwaukee Bucks

Playoff Stats: 6 GP | 24.8 PPG | 9.5 RPG | 4.0 APG

2015: Milwaukee Bucks

Playoff Stats: 6 GP | 11.5 PPG | 7.0 RPG | 2.7 APG
Final Series: Lost 4-2 to the Chicago Bulls

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Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP

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Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP Hardcover – August 10, 2021

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The story of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary rise from poverty in Athens, Greece, to superstardom in America with the Milwaukee Bucks—becoming one of the most transcendent players in history and an NBA Champion—from award-winning basketball reporter and feature writer at The Ringer Mirin Fader. As the face of the NBA’s new world order, Giannis Antetokounmpo has overcome unfathomable obstacles to become a symbol of hope for people all over the world; the personification of the American Dream. But his backstory remains largely untold. Fader unearths new information about the childhood that shaped “The Greek Freak”—from sleeping side by side with his brothers to selling trinkets on the street with his family to the racism he experienced. Antetokounmpo grew up in an era when Golden Dawn, Greece’s far-right, anti-immigrant party, patrolled his neighborhood, and his status as an illegal immigrant largely prevented him from playing for the country’s top clubs, making his NBA rise all the more improbable. Fader tells a deeply human story of how an unknown, skinny, Black Greek teen, who played in the country’s lowest pro division and was seen as a draft gamble, transformed his body and his game into MVP material. Antetokounmpo’s story has been framed as a feel-good narrative in which everyone has embraced him—watching him grow up, sign a five-year supermax contract extension worth $228 million, and lead the underdog Bucks to the NBA Championship in 2021. Giannis reveals a more nuanced story: how lonely and isolated he felt, adjusting to America and the NBA early in his career; the complexity of grappling with his Black and Greek identities; how he is so hard on himself and his shortcomings—a drive that fuels him every day; and the responsibility he feels to be a nurturing role model for his younger brothers. Fader illustrates a more vulnerable star than most people know, a person who has evolved triumphantly into all of his roles: father, brother, son, teammate, and global icon. ** Instant New York Times Bestseller , Los Angeles Times Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller** **Mirin Fader Selected as the 2021 Sports Media Author of the Year by The Big Lead** **The Sports Librarian’s Best of 2022 – Sports Books**

Print length 400 pages
Language English
Publisher Hachette Books
Publication date August 10, 2021
Dimensions 6.35 x 1.6 x 9.35 inches
ISBN-10 0306924129
ISBN-13 978-0306924125
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Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hachette Books (August 10, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0306924129
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0306924125
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.35 x 1.6 x 9.35 inches
#90 in Emigrants & Immigrants Biographies
#130 in Emigration & Immigration Studies (Books)
#180 in Basketball Biographies (Books)

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Mirin fader.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks
Power Forward
HT/WT 6' 11", 243 lbs
Birthdate 12/6/1994 (29)
Draft Info 2013: Rd 1, Pk 15 (MIL)
Experience 10th Season

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Feb 28, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks against Brooklyn Nets

Report names Giannis as a superstar you can build a team around for the next 5 years

Author: Matthew Dugandzic

In this story:

The NBA has a lot of young talent that teams can build around for the next five years. However, there are a select few that stand out among the rest. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of those players. He's already won two MVP awards and has led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA title in 2021, among many other achievements, and he's just turning 29 this year. Because of this, a report listed the "Greek Freak" as one of the top five superstars to build a team around for the next five years.

Another half-decade of dominance

Already a decade into his NBA career, Giannis is not showing any signs of slowing down. While there are concerns about whether the nature of Giannis' game will hold up over the next five years, Dan Favale pointed out that the Bucks ace has added layers to his game that will allow him to remain dominant.

"It's also not yet known how gracefully his game will withstand the rigors of time," Favale wrote . "So much of what he does—the acceleration going downhill, strides in transition, explosion around the basket, indomitable defensive displays—is rooted in incomprehensible athleticism. That could give him a shorter megastar lifespan than select peers. And yet, we're not particularly worried. The tail end of this exercise runs through his age-33 season. That's not ancient—not even in athletic-singularity years."

Does so many things great

Giannis is one of the rare players that does work on both ends of the floor. With a motor that seemingly never stops, he plays hard whenever he's on the floor and can put his team on his back at any point in the game. His ability to get to the rim as well as create space for himself is unparalleled in today's game. He also has a great feel for the game and always seems to make the right play. On defense, Giannis is also a force.

"His defense may never miss a beat. He won't always shoot unfathomably large gaps in a nanosecond, but he's carved out Defensive Player of the Year credentials by capitalizing on his length and smarts away from the ball as much as his physical tools," Favale added.

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Mar 10, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr. (4) shoots the ball over Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Former Kentucky standout dunks on one of the NBA's best players

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Kings-Bucks Injury Report: Murray, Antetokounmpo Status Updates

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1)

A report asks a crucial question with the NBA Playoffs on the horizon: When will the Giannis-Dame two-man game flourish consistently?

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates with guard Damian Lillard (0)

"When a guy like that is yelling for the ball, you gotta give it to him" – Giannis Antetokounmpo on Damian Lillard demanding the ball in crunch time

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Duke basketball’s current 2024-25 roster and what could be next for Blue Devils

College basketball’s transfer portal closed Wednesday, meaning players no longer have the option to leave their current school and play immediately elsewhere.

Following its loss to N.C. State in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and before the May 1 deadline, Duke basketball had seven players — Jeremy Roach, Mark Mitchell, Sean Stewart, TJ Power, Jaylen Blakes, Christian Reeves and Jaden Schutt — enter the transfer portal.

Two starters, Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski , made decisions to enter the 2024 NBA Draft.

As of Wednesday, Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown and Purdue transfer Mason Gillis have been added via the portal. Other players could join the Blue Devils as spring gives way to summer.

Entering his third season as head coach, Jon Scheyer currently has three scholarships remaining to fill out the roster. Returning guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster will be joined by a six-player recruiting class headlined by Cooper Flagg .

Duke is among the favorites to win the 2025 national championship. Following the closure of the transfer portal, here are five observations about the current state of Duke basketball’s 2024-25 roster and what could be next for the Blue Devils.

Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster are Duke’s returning veterans

With Jeremy Roach, Mark Mitchell, Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski gone, guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster will be Duke’s veteran returners. Proctor enters his junior season as the Blue Devils’ primary facilitator and a 35.2% three-point shooter. Foster started to gain traction as a scorer, defender and facilitator before a foot injury cut his season short. If both players can stay healthy, Duke can withstand the loss of a veteran like Roach in the backcourt.

Cooper Flagg is Blue Devils’ latest star freshman

The projected top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg continues to live up to the hype as one of the best recruits in several years. After a successful final season at Montverde Academy, Flagg stood out in All-Star showcases at the McDonald’s All-American, Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic games. His energy matches his talent, which is a dangerous combo for the rest of the nation.

Duke’s defense could be elite with Flagg, Khaman Maluach

Joining Flagg in the frontcourt will be 7-foot-2 center Khaman Maluach , a fellow five-star recruit and projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Duke’s lack of rim protection hindered its championship chances last season, but the Blue Devils won’t have that problem in 2024-25. Flagg and Maluach could be the best defensive duo in the country.

Darren Harris, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel provide scoring punch

It’s easy to focus on Flagg and Maluach because of their immense talent and NBA potential, but three more freshmen are capable of making waves as scorers for the Blue Devils. Darren Harris is a sharpshooter from Virginia, Isaiah Evans is a bucket-getting wing from Huntersville and Kon Knueppel left Wisconsin as one of the state’s all-time leading scorers. Duke won’t lack perimeter options next season.

Maliq Brown and Mason Gillis joined the Blue Devils, but what’s next from the transfer portal?

The departures of younger players in the program opened the door for Scheyer to bring in some veteran players. With Brown, Duke gets a versatile All-ACC defender and efficient scorer. With Gillis, the Blue Devils get a reliable 3-point shooter and the reigning Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. Both project to be great complementary pieces next season.

As for what else could be in the cards for Duke, Miami transfer Wooga Poplar and Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond are among the guards the Blue Devils are reportedly targeting in the portal. Both would provide another veteran option on the perimeter for Duke.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke basketball roster 2024-25 update after transfer portal closed

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography Facts, Childhood And Personal Life
Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography
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Giannis Antetokounmpo (Basketball Player) Wiki, Bio, Age, Height
Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography
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Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo (Greek: Γιάννης Αντετοκούνμπο; born Adétòkunbọ̀; December 6, 1994) is a Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His size, speed, strength, and country of origin have earned him the nickname "Greek Freak".He is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography
Giannis Antetokounmpo, nicknamed the Greek Freak, is a Greek basketball player.He is best known for his association with the NBA basketball team, Milwaukee Bucks.He started his professional career by signing up to play for the junior squad of the Filathlitikos B.C., a Greek professional basketball club. Soon after, he became a member of Filathlitikos's senior squad.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo (born December 6, 1994, Athens, Greece) Greek professional basketball player who led the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA to a championship in 2021. Adetokunbo was born in Athens, the son of Nigerian immigrants who had no legal status in Greece. Giannis and three of his four brothers were considered stateless because the country ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The origin story of basketball's living Greek legend
Giannis Antetokounmpo: An inspiration to the next generation. Now Antetokounmpo is one of the greatest basketball players ever. Drafted to the NBA in 2013, the man known as the 'Greek Freak' has gone on to become an NBA title-winning champion with the Milwaukee Bucks (2021) as well as accruing a list of accolades that include being a two-time league MVP and a finals MVP.
The Humble Superstar: New Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography Explores
Learn about Giannis Antetokounmpo's journey from a poor and undocumented immigrant in Greece to a two-time NBA MVP and champion. Mirin Fader, author of the new book, shares his family background, basketball career and legacy.
How Giannis Antetokounmpo Got From Athens To The Pantheon Of The NBA
For the first time in 50 years, the Milwaukee Bucks have won an NBA championship. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Mirin Fader of The Ringer about how forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led them to victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography
View the biography of Milwaukee Bucks Power Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on ESPN. Includes career history and teams played for.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The making of 'The Greek Freak'
Fast forward to 2021 and Giannis has signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history - a five-year deal worth $228.2m (£170.1m). A champion, activist and one of the most dominant players of his ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo's early years and rise to NBA. Born on December 6, 1994, in Athens to Nigerian immigrants Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo, Giannis grew up in poverty alongside his four brothers. The family faced financial hardship, and the young Antetokounmpo and his siblings had to contribute to the family's income.
Giannis Antetokounmpo represents everything great about sports
Giannis Antetokounmpo always seemed too good to be true. He was the latest international mystery man in the draft when we first learned about him in 2013, a skinny Greek teenager who had seemingly ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Checkout the latest stats of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com ... More bio, uniform, draft, salary info. 8x All Star; 2021 NBA Champ; 7x All-NBA; 2013-14 All-Rookie; 5x All-Defensive; 2016-17 Most Improved; 2x MVP; 2019-20 Def. POY;
Greek Freak: Giannis Antetokounmpo's NBA Journey
At 6'11, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the tallest and most intriguing point guard in NBA history. ... and called up Kidd's bio on his phone. "I saw Rookie of the Year, NBA championship, USA ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo
View the profile of Milwaukee Bucks Power Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Giannis Is What Happens When N.B.A. Dreams Come True
The book will be released Tuesday. Fader is a staff writer at The Ringer. She has also written for Bleacher Report's B/R Mag, the Orange County Register and Slam magazine. Each morning, Giannis ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography Facts, Childhood And ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo Personal Life. Antetokounmpo name was originally Adetokunko which means "the crown has returned home". The name Antetokounmpo stuck after Greek official wrongly spelt his father's name. His father, Charles died in 2017 at the age of 54. His mother Veronica, named Antetokounmpo, a Nigerian name, Ougko.
New Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography Is for Sports Junkies and ...
Phil Rosen. Sep 11, 2021, 8:56 AM PDT. Cover of Giannis Antetokounmpo biography Amazon. The new Giannis Anteteokounmpo biography by Mirin Fader is a compelling triumph for all audiences. Fader ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo: A Brief Biography. Giannis Antetokounmpo. ... Giannis Antetokounmpo was an unknown name in the USA, but with his tryouts, he made a mark in many franchises. He was selected ...
The Greek Freak I The Story Behind Giannis Antetokounmpo
It's one of the unlikeliest stories in NBA history. An international rags to riches tale too unbelievable to script. From the streets of Athens, Giannis Ante...
Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Playoff history, stats, appearances and record
Giannis Antetokounmpo Playoff History. Playoff Stats: 79 GP | 26.6 PPG | 12.0 RPG | 5.2 APG Playoff Series Record: 8-7 Playoff Record: 46-38 Playoff Appearances: 8 Play-In Appearances: 0 ...
Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP
The story of Giannis Antetokounmpo's extraordinary rise from poverty in Athens, Greece, to superstardom in America with the Milwaukee Bucks—becoming one of the most transcendent players in history and an NBA Champion—from award-winning basketball reporter and feature writer at The Ringer Mirin Fader. As the face of the NBA's new world order, Giannis Antetokounmpo has overcome ...
Giannis Antetokounmpo Career Stats
Complete career NBA stats for the Milwaukee Bucks Power Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on ESPN. Includes points, rebounds, and assists.
Report names Giannis as a superstar you can build a team around for the
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of those players. He's already won two MVP awards and has led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA title in 2021, among many other achievements, and he's just turning 29 ...
Duke basketball's current 2024-25 roster and what could be next for
NBA playoffs: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard uncertain to return for Game 6 vs. Pacers The Bucks face a 3-2 deficit against the Pacers heading into Thursday's Game 6. 3h ago

How Giannis Antetokounmpo Got From Athens To The Pantheon Of The NBA

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Giannis Is What Happens When N.B.A. Dreams Come True

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography Facts, Childhood And Personal Life

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Milwaukee Bucks (2013–present)

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Playoff History

Giannis Antetokounmpo Playoff Appearances

2022: Milwaukee Bucks

2021: Milwaukee Bucks

2020: Milwaukee Bucks

2019: Milwaukee Bucks

2018: Milwaukee Bucks

2017: Milwaukee Bucks

2015: Milwaukee Bucks

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Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP Hardcover – August 10, 2021

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Report names Giannis as a superstar you can build a team around for the next 5 years

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