Giannis Antetokoumnpo: from poverty to NBA MVP, success story
30 april 2025 в 17:37
Giannis Antetokounmpo has already made quite a name for himself in basketball. The NBA star helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2024−2025 playoffs. In their last game, tension arose when Giannis Antetokounmpo got into a heated argument with Tyrese Haliburton’s father, who confronted him, waving his son’s towel in Giannis' face after the Bucks' playoff loss.
In response, Giannis said in a post-match interview, according to CNN: «I believe in humility in victory». He added: «There are many people out there who say, 'No, when you win a game, you talk trash and it gives you the green light to disrespect someone else.' I disagree. I won the championship, they didn’t».
As Giannis prepares for a commercial that will air during the biggest game of the year, here’s what else you need to know about the NBA superstar and budding actor.
Born Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo in December 1994 in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian parents, the impressive 7-foot athlete has since earned the nickname «Greek Freak» — because many found it difficult to pronounce his impressive name. His outstanding height and skills as a forward also marked him as an exceptional athlete from the start. However, it was not an easy childhood. According to the New York Times, as a youth, he helped sell items like watches and sunglasses on the streets of Sepolia to support his family, including his Nigerian immigrant parents.
He eventually obtained Greek citizenship at the age of 18.
Giannis became great by studying the greats before him. According to NBA.com, Kobe Bryant took him under his wing to impart valuable lessons that helped the young athlete rise to the top of the game. Unfortunately, this also meant that Giannis was left with a deep sense of grief after Kobe’s shocking death on January 26, 2020.
«How did Kobe inspire me? Just work hard, be fearless, don’t pay attention to what people say about you, just go out there and do your job, smile», - he said just a few days later, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. «You have to sacrifice a lot, spend a lot of time away from your family, obviously, to play this game, but your family knows why you were put on this Earth, why you play this game, what you have to provide for them, because that’s why you were born. Kobe means greatness. He always had that smile, he always carried that charismatic look. I think it touched a lot of people in the world».
According to NPR, his late father, Charles, was a Nigerian footballer, and his mother, Veronica, was an experienced high jumper. It’s clear that he was destined for greatness just from genetics — and he is grateful for the legacy. Reports say he wears the number 34 for the Bucks in honor of his parents, who were born in 1963 and 1964 respectively.
In 2019, when he was named NBA MVP, he opened up in an emotional speech about reaching true greatness in the sport. And it turns out he had a pretty concrete plan. «Two or three years ago, I had a goal in my head, that goal [was] to be the best player in the league», - he said during the ceremony in Santa Monica, California. He also attributed this honor to his father’s unwavering work ethic.
«I will do whatever it takes to win, and I will win MVP», - he continued. «And every time I step on the floor, I think about my father, and that motivates me to play harder and move forward when my body hurts».
It’s no wonder Giannis has brothers who also excel in sports. His older brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, plays for the Greek team Panathinaikos, and his younger brother, Kostas, has played for the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Another brother, Alex Antetokounmpo, plays for the Wisconsin Herd in the NBA G League. His older brother, Francis, also played in semi-professional sports events.
«I want to thank my amazing brothers»
In response, Giannis said in a post-match interview, according to CNN: «I believe in humility in victory». He added: «There are many people out there who say, 'No, when you win a game, you talk trash and it gives you the green light to disrespect someone else.' I disagree. I won the championship, they didn’t».
As Giannis prepares for a commercial that will air during the biggest game of the year, here’s what else you need to know about the NBA superstar and budding actor.
Born Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo in December 1994 in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian parents, the impressive 7-foot athlete has since earned the nickname «Greek Freak» — because many found it difficult to pronounce his impressive name. His outstanding height and skills as a forward also marked him as an exceptional athlete from the start. However, it was not an easy childhood. According to the New York Times, as a youth, he helped sell items like watches and sunglasses on the streets of Sepolia to support his family, including his Nigerian immigrant parents.
He eventually obtained Greek citizenship at the age of 18.
Giannis became great by studying the greats before him. According to NBA.com, Kobe Bryant took him under his wing to impart valuable lessons that helped the young athlete rise to the top of the game. Unfortunately, this also meant that Giannis was left with a deep sense of grief after Kobe’s shocking death on January 26, 2020.
«How did Kobe inspire me? Just work hard, be fearless, don’t pay attention to what people say about you, just go out there and do your job, smile», - he said just a few days later, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. «You have to sacrifice a lot, spend a lot of time away from your family, obviously, to play this game, but your family knows why you were put on this Earth, why you play this game, what you have to provide for them, because that’s why you were born. Kobe means greatness. He always had that smile, he always carried that charismatic look. I think it touched a lot of people in the world».
According to NPR, his late father, Charles, was a Nigerian footballer, and his mother, Veronica, was an experienced high jumper. It’s clear that he was destined for greatness just from genetics — and he is grateful for the legacy. Reports say he wears the number 34 for the Bucks in honor of his parents, who were born in 1963 and 1964 respectively.
In 2019, when he was named NBA MVP, he opened up in an emotional speech about reaching true greatness in the sport. And it turns out he had a pretty concrete plan. «Two or three years ago, I had a goal in my head, that goal [was] to be the best player in the league», - he said during the ceremony in Santa Monica, California. He also attributed this honor to his father’s unwavering work ethic.
«I will do whatever it takes to win, and I will win MVP», - he continued. «And every time I step on the floor, I think about my father, and that motivates me to play harder and move forward when my body hurts».
It’s no wonder Giannis has brothers who also excel in sports. His older brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, plays for the Greek team Panathinaikos, and his younger brother, Kostas, has played for the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Another brother, Alex Antetokounmpo, plays for the Wisconsin Herd in the NBA G League. His older brother, Francis, also played in semi-professional sports events.
«I want to thank my amazing brothers»
© Kolganov Andrey
