Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo[a] (born Adetokunbo;[b] December 6, 1994) is a Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Antetokounmpo's country of origin, in addition to his size, speed, strength, and ball-handling skills have earned him the nickname "Greek Freak". Antetokounmpo is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards and one of the greatest European players of all time.

Born and raised in Athens to Nigerian parents, Antetokounmpo began playing basketball for the youth teams of Filathlitikos in Athens. In 2011, he began playing for the club's senior team before entering the 2013 NBA draft, where he was selected 15th overall by the Bucks. In 2016–17 he led the Bucks in all five major statistical categories and became the first player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all five statistics of total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.He received the Most Improved Player award in 2017. Antetokounmpo has received seven All-Star selections, including being selected as an All-Star captain in 2019, 2020 and 2023 as he led the Eastern Conference in voting in these three years.

One of the most decorated players in NBA history,[8] Antetokounmpo won consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Awards in 2019 and 2020, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to win two MVPs before turning 26. Along with his MVP award, he was also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, becoming only the third player after Michael Jordan (1988) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) to win both awards in the same season. In 2021, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971 and was named Finals MVP. The same year, he was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all-time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

EARLY LIFE

Giannis Sina Ugo Adetokunbo[11][12] was born in Athens, Greece, on December 6, 1994,[13] the son of immigrants from Nigeria.[14][15][16] His father had been a soccer player in Nigeria, while his mother was a high jumper. Three years earlier, they had moved from Lagos, leaving their firstborn son, Francis, under the care of his grandparents.[17] Adetokunbo grew up in the Athens neighborhood of Sepolia,[16] and described his home as a "Nigerian home" with "no Greek culture. It’s straight-up Nigerian culture."[18] His parents, as immigrants without work permits,[19] could not easily find work, so Giannis and his older brother Thanasis helped by hawking watches, handbags, and sunglasses in the streets.[20] In 2007, Adetokunbo started playing basketball.[21]

Although Adetokunbo and three of his four brothers were born in Greece, they did not automatically receive Greek citizenship as Greek nationality law follows jus sanguinis.[15] People deemed him an outsider. He said that he was considered "not Greek enough" because of his parents' heritage and his different skin color, while Nigerians in the African neighborhoods of Greece criticized him for not understanding either the Yoruba or Igbo languages.[22] For the first 18 years of his life, Adetokunbo could not travel outside the country and was effectively stateless, having no papers from Greece or Nigeria.[21] He was eventually issued Greek citizenship on May 9, 2013,[23] less than two months before the 2013 NBA Draft.

After gaining Greek citizenship in 2013, his official surname became Αντετοκούνμπο, the Greek transcription of Adetokunbo, which was then transliterated letter-for-letter and officially spelled on his Greek passport as Antetokounmpo. Giannis is the colloquial for the Gr. Ioannis (John). Because many could not pronounce his surname, he quickly became known as the "Greek Freak". Antetokounmpo also holds Nigerian citizenship,[11] having received his Nigerian passport in 2015, and as such possesses dual citizenship.He has stated that he feels both Greek and Nigerian, telling many that he is African and "not just 'The Greek Freak'".

RECORDS

Only player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all five statistics of total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.[193]Only player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steals and 1 blocks in multiple seasons.[194]Only non-American player in NBA history to win the All-Star Game MVP.Only player in NBA history to have 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a playoff series.Only player in NBA history to average at least 31 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists in a single postseason.Highest scoring close-out Finals game in NBA history (50 points): Milwaukee Bucks, 2020–21Tied with Bob Petit (St. Louis Hawks, 1957–58)Second NBA player to average at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists on 55% field goal percentage in a single season: Milwaukee Bucks, 2022–23Also achieved by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks, 1972–73)Third NBA player to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season: Milwaukee Bucks, 2019–20Also achieved by Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls, 1987–88), and Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets, 1993–94)Third NBA player to post a 40 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists game in the playoffs: Milwaukee Bucks, 2021–22Also achieved by Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors, 1961–62) and (Philadelphia 76ers, 1966–67), and Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers, 2000–01)Fourth NBA player since the NBA-ABA merger to post 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game: Milwaukee Bucks, 2022–23Also achieved by David Lee (New York Knicks, 2009–10), DeMarcus Cousins (New Orleans Pelicans, 2017–18), and Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets, 2019–20 and 2022–23)