Giannis Antetokounmpo, aka the “Greek Freak,” is a Greece-born basketball star for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. Giannis’ blending of height, ball-handling aptitudes, speed, and athletic ability led to his being dubbed the Greek Freak.
Born to Nigerian parents, Giannis started b-ball with teen groups of Filathlitikos in Athens, Greece. He started competing for the association’s highest level group in 2011. He declared himself qualified for the NBA and was chosen 15th in the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Age
Giannis’s date of birth is December 6, 1994. So, for most of 2020, he’ll be 24 years old. He was born in Athens, Greece. His Zodiac sign is Sagittarius, and his birthstone is Zircon.
Height and Weight
Antetokounmpo’s build is athletic, and he stands 6 feet 11 inches (211 cm) and weighs about 242lbs (110 kgs). His eye color is dark brown, and he has black hair. Giannis’s waist is 33, and his biceps size is 16 inches.
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The Greek Freak’s Family
Antetokounmpo’s father, Charles, is a former footballer who used to play for Nigeria, whereas his mother, Veronica, has specialized in high jumping. Freak has four brothers Kostas, Kostas, Francis, Thanasis, and Alexis.
Relationships/ Spouse
He is currently in a relationship with Mariah Danae.
Mariah Danae
The Buck’s star is in a relationship with Mariah Danae. He has uploaded photos of the two of them together on his Instagram account. Antetokounmpo has more than 825,000 followers.
Early Life
His parents migrated from Lagos, leaving their oldest child, Francis, with his grandfather and grandmother. Even though Giannis and his three brothers were born in Greece, his brothers could not obtain Greek citizenship. For the first 18 years, Giannis was like a man without a country, as he had no official nationality status with either Greece or Nigeria.
Giannis grew up in the Athens area of Sepolia. His parents had difficulties finding consistent work, so Giannis and his older brother Thanasis helped by selling clocks, handbags, and sunglasses on the streets. Giannis later began his ball career, and by 2009 he was competing for the junior team of Filathlitikos. Along with his sibling Alexandros, he was christened within the Greek Conventional Church on October 28, 2012.
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Career
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks (2013–present)
On April 28, 2013, Giannis formally declared himself qualified for the 2013 NBA. He satisfied his draft predictions as a first-round choice by getting chosen 15th in general by the Bucks. He marked his small-scale agreement with the Bucks on July 30, 2013.
On October 13, 2013, Giannis made his NBA debut when he was 18, as one of the most youthful NBA athletes of all time. He averaged 1.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 6.8 points, 0.8 blocks, and 0.8 steals in 77 games amid his first term. Giannis added in double-doubles in 23 games. He wrapped up the games with a total of 61 blocks, which topped all NBA rookies and was the seventh-highest by a Bucks first-timer in establishment records.
When the season finished, he was given the 2013–14 NBA All-Rookie second-team title. He was chosen to take part in New Orleans, at NBA All-Star Weekend, within the Rising Stars Challenge, where he had two rebounds, two assists, and nine points in under 17 minutes time period.
Giannis made 15 rebounds and 27 points against the Houston Rockets on February 6, 2015, and even though they lost, this marked his career-high points.
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Awards
Afterward, for games competed February 2–8, he was nominated the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, winning Player of the Week respects for the very first time in his profession. He played at NBA All-Star End of the week and competed in the 2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in New York.
National Team
Giannis played for Greece for the first time at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship in the Greek Under-20 state group in July 2013. He assisted Greece to a fifth-place with an average of 7.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 8.0 points over the ten games, and an 8–2 history. He wrapped up the competition positioned on—seven in blocked shots and second in defensive rebounds.
The Greek Freak played for the senior men’s Greek national basketball group for the first time in 2014, assisting Greece to wrap up, with a 5–1 record, ninth in general within the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. His average was 4.3 bounce back and 6.3 points in the six contests, and shoots 45.8% from the field.
Giannis once more entered the Greek national group for EuroBasket 2015. Greece’s program comprised of numerous veteran athletes, most of them already delegated European victors with their associations, such as Ioannis Bourousis, Nikos Zisis, and Vassilis Spanoulis. Greece played well in local games.
EuroBasket
At EuroBasket 2015, Greece was victorious within the starting level and came to the quarter-finals with ease, where a difficult contest finished with the inevitable victors, Spain winning. Giannis wrapped up the competition with a career-best 17 rebounds and three double-doubles versus Spain, being the best in his group in rebounds for the game. He had an average of 1.1 assists in eight games, 9.8 points, and 6.9 rebounds in every game.
Giannis, moreover, competed at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament with Greece, where he had an average of 2.0 assists, 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 0.7 steals in every match in 3 games. After losing to the team of Croatia by an ending score of 66–61, Greece fizzled to go for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Be that as it may, he couldn’t go to the official EuroBasket 2017 competition because of a kneecap sprain.
Giannis played for Greece at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The Greek Freak’s Net Worth
Giannis estimated net worth is about 60 million U.S. dollars. He inked a deal with Nike, earning $9 million. By earning a total of 43.2 million U.S. dollars in 2019, he came 75th on Forbes’ ‘Celebrity 100’ list and 26th on its The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes 2019 list.
The Greek Freak also appeared on the ’30 under 30′ list. He amassed $19 million from brand endorsements and 24.2 from salary and winnings. His sponsors include Hulu, Nike, and 2K Sports.
Awards and accomplishments
NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge Participant: 2014
NBA All-Rookie Second Team: 2014
Slam Dunk Contest Participant: 2015
Rising Stars Challenge Participant: 2014, 2015
NBA Most Improved Player: 2017
NBA All-Defensive Second Team: 2017
Eurostar European Player of the Year: 2018
2× All-NBA Second Team: 2017, 2018
3× NBA All-Star: 2017, 2018, 2019
NBA Most Valuable Player: 2019
NBA All-Defensive First Team: 2019
All-NBA First Team: 2019
Giannis Antetokounmpo Quotes
You have so many games to play, and you can do well in one game but bad in the other ones. The thing you’ve got to be is consistent.
I have worked hard to earn recognition in the NBA, and being on the cover of ‘NBA 2K19’ is a dream come true.
I love Milwaukee! I’m going to be in Milwaukee for 20 years! I’ll be here so long; they’ll be sick of me!
I’m just trying to be the best basketball player I can be, you know, move the ball.
Before I leave this earth, I’m going to help people have a better future.
It was really heavy. I thought it would be lighter.
We loved our dad. My mom loved her husband. But at the end of the day, I think he did what he was supposed to do in this world. He had five kids and raised us right. That’s the most important thing.
When LeBron came into the league, I was nine years old. So I grew up watching him play.
Basketball Quotes
Just every day, try to be a leader, try to get better, and to help my team win. I just want to be more vocal, like talk more so my teammates can know I got their back.
Because my parents were illegal, they couldn’t trust anybody. They were always nervous. A neighbor could be like, ‘These people are making too much noise, their children are making too much noise,’ and the cops could knock at our door and ask for our papers, and that’s it. It’s that simple. So you’re always a little closed.
MVP is not about stats and numbers, and obviously, James Harden had unbelievable numbers and Paul George also, but obviously, it’s about winning, we created great habits throughout the season and were able to stick by them, and that’s why we were able to have a chance in every single game we played and were able to win 60 games.
It starts with my family. That drives me every day, just seeing them smiling.
To be one of the best ever to play the game? I think I have the ability to do that. But I’ve got to work hard. If I just keep talking and don’t put some work in, it’s not going to happen.
I cannot take 30 jumpers a game. You got to have a balance. You’ve got to get your teammates involved.
There’s a lot of big guys who can play-make. We put labels like, ‘Oh, he’s a point guard, he’s a center.’ But sometimes your center can play-make for you and not just be the center, boxing out for rebounds and playing in the post.
On Life
I just try to stay grounded.
It’s good to know that your coach cares about you.
I’m a guy who doesn’t really care about glamour and big markets; I like to be home all day.
You always fight with your brothers.
It’s my nature to be fearless.
It’s hard when the season ends, and you’re not waking up anymore for practices, games. You’re not in your routine no more.
I get up in the morning, I take a shower, and I go to practice. When I’m finished, the only thing that’s on my mind is going back home and spending time with my family.
I know I can get to the basket whenever I want, but I’ve got to be able to create some plays, like easy plays.LeBron James is one of the best players in the league – and one of the best players to ever play the game.
I’m a humble kid. I grew up with Filathlitikos. There were some people in Filathlitikos that taught me how to stay humble. It was coach Tzivas that never allowed me to get carried away. That’s who I am.
Inspirational Sayings from Giannis Antetokounmpo
Tim Duncan did it. Dirk Nowitzki did it. I just want to be one of those guys that stays for the city, play for the city for 20 years.
You can never come back fresher after the all-star break. I always try to do what I do, try to take care of my body, get some weights in, feel a little bit stronger, and ready to push through 25 games.
I’m serious about it, and I want to spend my money wisely. I’m not going to throw away any money.
If you are going to do something, you have to do it for yourself, and that’s what I try to do. I try to be authentic and try to be original, so that’s what I try to be. A lot of people try to build big brands but have received bad advice, and they don’t try to be authentic and real with themselves.
On talent
I saw Aaron Judge hitting the ball into the stands. That’s amazing. You’ve got to be really strong to do that.
I like to score when I can, but if I can’t do that, I like to do the other things – defense, blocking, rebounding.
With back-to-backs, a lot of games, sometimes you think, ‘I’ve got to take a day off today.’ But you have to push through it. The greats did.
I think my jump shot could get a lot better. I could become a really big threat out there.
Short Quotations from the Greek Freak
I usually feel that I prefer to hide from people.
Leading your family is a lot tougher than basketball.
We started from nothing as a family.
I like Rice Krispie treats. I like Skittles and Snickers.
I’m loyal to the people I work with.
I never went to college.
Me and my mother we both, love Eddie Murphy.
You can just never forget where you came from.
I see myself as a student. I am trying to learn everything.
Sometimes I’m wide open; I’ve just got to shoot it.
Persistent in life? I think, yes, I am. I’m going to do something until I get it right.
I’m a low-profile guy.
I’ve got to perfect my game. Keep working.
I want to be an all-around basketball player.
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Motivational Quotes
I don’t like all these flashy cities like L.A. or Miami. I don’t know if I could be the same player if I played in those cities.
Of course, I know that by growing older, I will become stronger, smarter, and know the game better.
When you hear your name up there on the stage, and then you realize these years of hard work, what you did in the past, then you start getting emotional.
We have to get better as a team and get better as individuals. This is the beginning of a long journey for us.
Gregg Popovich is among the greatest coaches ever.
Growing up
I was selling stuff probably since I could remember, like 6 or 7 years old. I was always out there helping my mom and dad sell watches, glasses, C.D.s, DVDs, stuff like that. Whatever we could put our hands on. I did it until I was around 17. But I was just doing it because I had to. There was no other option.
Music is a huge part of my life when I am on the road, working out, or preparing for a game. It is something I always go back to, and it is something that motivates me. It gets me hype before a game.
I think for a guy like me, a low-profile guy, it’s better being in Milwaukee.
If I can’t score, I do whatever I can to support my teammates.
I would be a terrible baseball player.
The Bucks and John Hammond chose me in the draft, got me in the NBA, kept me in the team with a role from my very first season, and they are my basketball family.
On being a basketball player
At first, when my agent told me, ‘They want you to do an interview, a piece for ’60 Minutes,’ I was like, ‘What is ’60 Minutes’?”
I watched a lot of Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, Kevin Durant, and a lot of Paul Pierce. I used to watch Tracy McGrady as well, along with Kevin Garnett.
Just growing up and going through life and how tough life was for my family and me, I’m always going to stay humble.
You can tell from the way he plays, he has so much patience, he knows what we want to do, he has faith in himself, and he has been in the Finals before.
I can see the love of people in Milwaukee. I can see that the city wants me to be there for a long time.
It doesn’t matter how you’re playing: you’ve got to be vocal – you’ve got to be aggressive – if you really want to be one of the best in this league.
I like living in a smaller place, but I like being in big cities, too, like Athens.
By Steve Jackson
Steve writes about basketball at all levels but loves the NBA.
Overtime
You’re on The Greek Freak: NBA Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s page.
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