Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo is a Greek Professional basketball player of Nigerian descent who plays for Current NBA champions the Milwaukee Bucks and the Greek National Basketball Team.
His size, huge frame, speed and ball-handling skills earned him the nickname “Greek Freak”.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Early Life
Born and raised in Athens, Greece to Nigerian immigrants on December 6, 1994. Giannis was the third born behind Francis and Thanasis. His parents struggled to make ends meet as they struggled for a job.
So Giannis and his older brother Thanasis helped by hawking watches, handbags, and sunglasses in the streets of Athens.
In 2007, Adetokunbo started playing basketball. Although Giannis and his 4 other brothers were born in Greece, they did not automatically receive Greek citizenship as Greek law follows jus sanguinis.
For the first 18 years of his life he had no identity as he had neither of the Greek or Nigerian papers. He was eventually issued Greek citizenship on May 9, 2013, few months before the 2013 NBA draft.
His name was Romanized, as the Greek transcription of Adetokunbo became Antetokounmpo. Because majority could not pronounce his Surname he became known as the Greek Freak. Giannis also holds Nigerian Citizenship, having received his Nigerian passport in 2015. On September 2017, Giannis lost his Dad Charles Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Professional career
Giannis began playing basketball for local side Filathlitikos youth side in Athens.
By 2011, the lanky Giannis has broken to the clubs senior team before finally entering the 2013 NBA Draft where he was selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.
In the 2016/17 season the Freak led the Bucks in all five major statistical categories and was the first ever player in the NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all five stats of points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
His breakthrough season with the Bucks came in year 4 in 2016 as he agreed to a four year $100 million contract extension with the Bucks.
His stats increased and on January 19 he was named an Eastern All-star team starter in the 2017 NBA all-star.
At 22 years and 74 days old, he became the youngest player in the franchise to start an All Star game, also the first Greek ever All star and never disappointed. He led the East with 30 points in their 192-182 loss to the West. At the 2019 NBA Awards end-of-season night, Antetokounmpo was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the second Bucks player to win MVP, and became the third youngest player to win the MVP over the previous 40 seasons, behind Derrick Rose and LeBron James.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Net worth
According to Celebrity Net worth, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s net worth is $70 million. He makes his money largely from his basketball salaries and endorsements with huge brands.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Wife
There’s a question about Gianiss’s wife but he’s not married at the moment but has a girlfriend called Mariah Riddlesprigger who is his partner and they have a son together called Liam Charles Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Brothers
Giannis has 4 other brothers namely Thanasis who he plays with at the Bucks, Kostas currently at ASVEL in France, Alex at Raptors 905 in the NBA G-league, and their Senior most brother Francis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo shoes
The Greek has a contract with Nike and his shoes like the Nike Giannis Immortality, the Nike Zoom Freak 3, the Mythical Nike Zokm Freak 1 have all been released
Giannis Antetokounmpo height
Giannis has an impressive height. He’s 6ft 11 inches and weighs 110kg
Giannis Antetokounmpo Contract
Antetokounmpo has a 5-year current contract with the Bucks receiving $228 million in that span. He will be a free agent in 2026
