Giannis Antetokoumnpo has already made himself fairly a reputation in basketball. The NBA star helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2024-2025 playoffs. Of their most up-to-date sport, tensions flared when Giannis Antetokounmpo bought right into a heated change with Tyrese Haliburton’s father, who confronted him by waving his son’s towel in Giannis’s face after the Bucks’ playoff loss.
In response, Giannis mentioned in a post-game interview, in line with CNN, “I consider in being humble in victory.” He added, “Lots of people on the market which are like: ‘No, whenever you win the sport, you speak sh*t and it’s a inexperienced mild so that you can be disrespectful in the direction of anyone else.’ I disagree. I’ve gained a championship, they haven’t.”
As Giannis gears up for the advert to point out in the course of the largest sport of the 12 months, right here’s what else to know in regards to the NBA celebrity and budding actor.
He was born in Athens, Greece
Born Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo in December of 1994 in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian mother and father, the imposing 7-foot-tall athlete has since been nicknamed “Greek Freak” — as a result of many had bother announcing his formidable title. His exceptional peak and excellent abilities as an influence ahead additionally marked him as an impressive athlete from the start. In any case, it wasn’t a simple childhood. In keeping with the New York Instances, as a youth he helped promote gadgets like watches and sun shades within the streets of Sepolia to assist assist his household, together with his Nigerian immigrant mother and father.
He finally took Greek citizenship on the age of 18.
He was mentored by the late Kobe Bryant
Giannis turned nice by finding out the greats earlier than him. Per NBA.com, Kobe Bryant took him below his wing to instill invaluable classes that helped the youthful athlete rise to the highest of the sport. Sadly, that additionally meant that Giannis was left with a deep sense of grief following the gorgeous loss of life of Kobe on January 26, 2020.
“How did Kobe encourage me? Simply work onerous, be fearless, don’t actually care about what individuals should say about you, simply go on the market and do your job, have a smile in your face,” he mentioned simply days later, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “You’re going to should sacrifice quite a bit, loads of household time, clearly, to play this sport, however your loved ones is aware of why you have been placed on this Earth, why you play this sport, which is to offer for them as a result of that’s what you’re born to do. Kobe means greatness. He at all times had that smile, he at all times had that charisma that he carried with him. I feel it touched lots of people on the earth.”
Giannis has athletics in his blood
In keeping with NPR, his late father Charles was a Nigerian soccer (soccer) participant, and his mom Veronica was a talented excessive jumper. Clearly, he was destined for greatness by genetics alone — and he’s grateful for the legacy. He reportedly wears the quantity 34 for the Bucks in honor of his mother and father, who have been born in 1963 and 1964, respectively.
He set a objective for greatness
In 2019, when he was named the NBA’s MVP, he opened up in an emotional speech about how he achieved the true mark of greatness within the sport. And it seems he had a fairly particular plan. “Two, three years in the past, I had the objective in my head, that objective [was] to be one of the best participant within the league,” he mentioned in the course of the ceremony in Santa Monica, California. He additionally credited his father’s unflappable work ethic for the respect.
“I’m going to do no matter it takes to win and I’m going to win MVP,” he continued. “And each time I step on the ground, I consider my dad, and that motivates me to play more durable and transfer ahead when my physique is sore.”
Giannis has athletic brothers
Not surprisingly, Giannis has siblings who additionally excel on the sport. An older brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, performs for the Greek group Panathinaikos, and youthful brother Kostas has performed for the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Yet one more brother, Alex Antetokounmpo, performs for the Wisconsin Herd within the NBA-G league. His eldest brother, Francis, has additionally performed semi professional sports activities.
“I need to thank my wonderful brothers,” he gushed over his siblings whereas accepting the MVP award. “I like you guys.”