The most prominent name in world basketball right now. The Greek-Nigerian Giannis Antetokounmpo started his career at Filathistikos Zografou and without being noticed by the Greek basketball greats, he found himself playing in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks, whom he led to the 2019 NBA Finals for the first time since 1974.
Yiannis Hugo Antetokounmpo[/B] was born on December 6, 1994 in Athens to immigrant parents and grew up in Sepolia. His father Charles Antetokounmpo (1963-2017), of Yoruba ethnicity, played football in his homeland, while his mother Veronica Antetokounmpo, of Igbo ethnicity, was a height athlete. The family surname means in the Yoruba language "the crown returned from abroad". Yiannis has four other siblings, most notably Thanasis and Kostas, who also play in the NBA.
Early years in Greece
His father came to Greece and settled in Athens in 1991 in search of better fortune with his wife and three of his four children. Unable to find steady employment as an illegal immigrant, he made a living as a street vendor of watches, bags and sunglasses, with the help of Giannis and Thanasis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo started playing basketball when he was discovered by the hounds of Philathistiko Zografou in 2007. He passed through the club's minor teams and in 2011 he joined the first team and the next two years he played in the third division and A2 of the Greek league
In December 2012, shortly after turning 18, he signed with the Spanish club AND Zaragoza with the right of release if he was accepted to the NBA. Turkish Anadolu Efes and Barcelona had shown interest in acquiring him. Giannis remained playing for Philathistikos with the prospect of joining the Spanish team the following season.
"The Greek Freak"
But on April 28, 2013, he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA draft and the wondrous world of the top league opened up before him. Every basketball player's dream had come true for the poor kid from Sepolia.
Giannis immediately stood out with his athletic skills, which were improved by the Americans. He combined height (2.11m), speed, strength and ball-handling ability. His future was predicted to be bright and it didn't take him long to become the leader of the team. The nickname that has followed him ever since is "The Greek Freak"
NBA MVP
In 2017, he became the first player in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in all five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) in the regular season. That same year, he was named the Most Improved Player and participated in an all-star game with the NBA's top players for the first time. Two more appearances would follow in 2018 and 2019.
In 2019, he led the Milwaukee Bucks to the championship game, something that had not happened since 1974, and he was named the conference's Most Valuable Player.
Participation in the National Team
Giannis Antetonkubos does not forget Greek basketball. He has 49 appearances for the National Team, with 573 points (11.7 per game).
Source: sansimera.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
