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Top 20 Surprising Facts About Giannis Antetokounmpo

One name stands out above the rest in the NBA scene, inspiring awe in the hearts of both players and fans: Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak. Beyond the spectacular crossovers and dunks that defy gravity, however, are surprising facts that have been kept from public view until now.

The fascinating events that created the superstar’s unbreakable character are revealed in this in-depth expos茅, which peels back the layers of his mysterious existence. Every turn and turn reveals an astounding discovery that will leave you yearning for more, from his humble beginnings on the streets of Athens to the heights of NBA success.

Beyond the polished appearance of the limelight, we dive into the Freak’s private world and reveal startling realities that represent the very core of his extraordinary mystique. Let’s take a look at the top 20 surprising facts about Giannis Antetokounmpo.

1. He Was Selected 15th Overall In The 2013 NBA Draft

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Giannis Antetokounmpo was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. He was a relatively unknown player from Greece at the time, but his physical attributes and potential impressed NBA scouts. The Bucks saw great promise in Giannis, despite his lack of experience.

They believed that with the right development and coaching, he could become a game-changer in the NBA. Their decision proved to be one of the most important draft steals in NBA history.

2. Giannis Was The Youngest Player In The NBA During His Rookie Season

Giannis Antetokounmpo was the NBA’s youngest player during the 2013-2014 season. In the 2013 NBA draft, he was selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was born on December 6, 1994, making him 18 years and 318 days old when he debuted in the NBA on October 29, 2013.

During his first season, Antetokounmpo averaged just 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He did, however, show glimpses of his promise, most notably his quickness and ability to defend several positions. Giannis’ excellent rookie season performances anticipated the success he would attain in the years to come.

3. Giannis Was On The Verge Of Playing In Spain Instead Of The NBA

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 Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential was recognized by teams in Greece, the United States, and Spain. In December 2012, his team Filathlitikos agreed to a four-year contract with the Spanish team Basket Zaragoza. Basket Zaragoza was a top-tier team in Spain at the time, and they had a successful season in 2012-2013.

Despite this option, Antetokounmpo’s choice to join the NBA Draft in 2013 effectively ended any prospective spell in Spain, as he sought to play in the world’s finest basketball league.

4. Giannis Played Professionally In Greece For Two Seasons Before Joining The NBA

Giannis Antetokounmpo spent two seasons playing professionally in Greece before entering the NBA. He was a member of the Filathlitikos team in the Greek Basket competition, the country’s most prominent professional basketball competition. Antetokounmpo averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game in his two seasons with Filathlitikos. In 2012-13, he also helped the squad reach the Greek Cup final.

Antetokounmpo’s play in Greece drew the attention of NBA scouts, and he was selected as the 15th overall choice in the 2013 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. 

5. He Once Hiked A Ride To The Arena Because Of Insufficient Funds

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In December 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo had to send money to his family in Athens on the day of a game. He took a cab from his suburban Milwaukee home to a nearby Western Union, but he realized he had reached his withdrawal limit after withdrawing money from an ATM.

He was short on cab fare, so he decided to sprint approximately two kilometers to the Bradley Center, where the game was to be held. As he was sprinting, a young married couple stopped alongside him and offered him a ride, and drove him to the arena.

6. He Is A 2x NBA MVP

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time NBA MVP, winning the award in 2019 and 2020. He is the first player in Bucks history to win the award multiple times.

Antetokounmpo won the MVP award in 2019 after averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He also won the MVP award again in 2020 after averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.

7. Giannis Antetokounmpo Is The First Recipient Of The Most Improved Award And NBA MVP

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Giannis Antetokounmpo is the first player in NBA history to win the Most Improved Player Award and the NBA MVP award. He won the Most Improved Player award in 2017 after averaging 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, which was a significant improvement from his previous season’s averages of 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

He then went on to win the MVP award in 2019 after averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Antetokounmpo’s improvement from his rookie season to his Most Improved Player season was one of the most impressive in NBA history. He went from being a role player to one of the best players in the league in just two seasons.

8. He Is The First Greek To Win NBA MVP

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the first Greek to win the NBA MVP award. He won the award in 2019 after averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in the NBA, and he was also named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece. He started playing basketball at a young age, and he moved to the United States in 2013 to pursue his basketball career. He was drafted by the Bucks with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft.

Read More: NBA鈥檚 20 Best Defenders: The Players Who Stopped Their Opponents

9. Giannis Led The Bucks To Their First NBA Championship In 50 Years

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Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years. The Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games in the 2021 NBA Finals, and Antetokounmpo was awarded Finals MVP.

In the Finals, Antetokounmpo averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 50.6% from the field and 31.6% from three-point range. He was dominating throughout the series, making multiple clutch plays in game-ending situations.

The Bucks’ win was a watershed moment for the city of Milwaukee. The squad had not won an NBA title since 1971, and Antetokounmpo’s performance was a big reason why they were able to snap the streak. He is presently regarded as one of the top players in the NBA thanks to his legacy.

10. He Grew Under The Tutelage Of Kobe Bryant

In 2018, Giannis Antetokounmpo tweeted at Kobe Bryant, asking him for a basketball-related challenge. Bryant responded with one word: “MVP.” The next season, Antetokounmpo won the NBA MVP award. This was a clear testament to Bryant’s impact on Antetokounmpo and to what he has become.

Antetokounmpo has said that Bryant was a role model for him and that he learned a lot from him. Bryant’s challenge to Antetokounmpo was a reminder of his potential, and it helped motivate him to reach his goals.

Antetokounmpo’s victory in the MVP race was a major accomplishment, and it showed that he had become one of the best players in the NBA.

Related: 10 Amazing Facts about Kobe Bryant

11. He Trademarked His Name For Endorsement Purposes

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Giannis Antetokounmpo has registered his name as a trademark for endorsement reasons. He owns the trademarks “Greek Freak,” “Antetokounmpo,” and “Giannis Antetokounmpo.” He has also registered trademarks for his distinctive shoes and clothes business.

Antetokounmpo is safeguarding his brand by trademarking his name, assuring that no one else may use his name or likeness for commercial reasons without his consent. This is significant because it gives him control over how his name and likeness are used, as well as assures that he gets compensated for any use of his name or appearance.

12. His Hands Are 12 Inches Long

Giannis Antetokounmpo has one of the largest hands in NBA history, measuring 12 inches long from the tip of his middle finger to his wrist. These large hands give him a significant advantage on the court, allowing him to palm the ball easily and reach further than other players.

This gives him an edge on defense and rebounding, and it is one of the things that makes him such a unique and dominant player.

13. He First Owned And Wore A Suit During The Draft 

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Giannis Antetokounmpo had never owned a suit before he was drafted into the NBA. He came from a humble background in Greece, and his family could not afford to buy him one. He had never owned a suit before, and he had to get one for the draft.

Antetokounmpo was eventually drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. He has since gone on to become one of the best players in the league, and he has won two MVP awards and a championship.

14. His Eldest Brother Forged A Career In Soccer

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s elder brother, Francis Adetokounbo, is the only son born in Nigeria, as opposed to the rest of the family, who was born in Greece. He keeps the Nigerian spelling of his surname because he stayed in Nigeria when his parents migrated to Greece.

Adetokounbo used his athletic ability to play professional soccer with AE Sparti and Aittitos Spaton. Despite his family’s dispersal, he remained connected to his Nigerian roots and achieved success in his chosen sport, football.

15. He Comes From An Athletic Family

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Giannis Antetokounmpo comes from a family with a strong athletic background. His father, Charles, was a professional soccer player in Nigeria, and his mother, Veronica, was a high jumper.

Giannis’s brothers, Thanasis and Kostas, also play basketball professionally. The youngest Antetokounmpo brother, Alex, is also a professional basketball player.

Giannis’s athleticism is evident from his family’s history of athletic achievement. His father’s speed and agility as a soccer player likely contributed to Giannis’s athleticism, while his mother’s height and jumping ability likely helped him develop his skills in those areas.

16. Giannis Served In The Army In 2016

Every male adult citizen up to the age of 45 is required by Greek law to serve in the Hellenic Army for at least nine months. Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, both Greek citizens who live in the United States permanently, were granted a shorter period of duty. In the summer of 2016, they spent three months in a military training camp in Greece.

The Antetokounmpo brothers’ choice to serve in the Greek Army demonstrated their patriotism and dedication to their homeland. It was also an opportunity for them to reconnect with their Greek roots and give back to the nation that had so much provided to them.

17. Giannis Was An Immigrant In Greece Until He Turned 18

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Giannis Antetokounmpo was born in Greece to undocumented Nigerian immigrants. They were not eligible for Greek citizenship at birth since they were the offspring of undocumented immigrants. They were obliged to apply for citizenship at the age of 18, but Giannis was already a basketball phenom at the time.

He opted to compete for Greece, where he grew up and is now one of the country’s most popular and accomplished sportsmen.

18. Giannis Is A Dual Citizen

Giannis Antetokounmpo holds two passports. He holds dual citizenship in Greece and Nigeria. He was born to Nigerian parents in Athens, Greece. He was granted Greek citizenship in 2013, and Nigerian citizenship in 2015.

19. Giannis Had A Taste Of His First Smoothie In 2014

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In 2014, Giannis Antetokounmpo drank his first smoothie. He was in his first NBA season in the United States and had never had a smoothie before. Giannis found American cuisine, which was more lovable than we could have imagined.

When Giannis, then 19, had a smoothie for the first time in 2014, his tweet about the experience went viral. 鈥淚 just taste for the first time a smoothie… MAN GOD BLESS AMERICA,鈥� the tweet read.

20. Antetokounmpo Sold Watches, DVDs, and CDs In Greece To Help His Family Survive

To aid his family, Giannis Antetokounmpo had to sell watches, glasses, CDs, and DVDs. He was raised in an impoverished home in Athens, Greece, by parents who were undocumented immigrants. Giannis and his siblings had to assist their parents in making ends meet, and they would frequently sell goods on the street to obtain money.

Giannis has stated that he would sell everything he came across, including watches, glasses, CDs, and DVDs.  Giannis’s hard labor not only helped his family survive but also helped him build a strong work ethic.

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