![]() ![]() Should Greece qualify for the Olympics in Japan, they will be rewarded with a place in Group A alongside Iran, France, and favourites the USA.Hundred-pound dog with leg issues has a bright future with new family. There is also a chance that Giannis and many other NBA stars won’t be available for the competition, as the qualifying tournament dates from June 29-July 4 will clash with the NBA playoffs. With China and a highly-rated Canada team joining the Europeans in their Group, qualification is by no means a given. There were high hopes for the team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, but the team and its talisman failed to clinch one of the two European Olympic qualifying berths on offer for the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021.Ĭurrently sitting seventh in the world rankings, Greece's men now need to finish top of their group at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria, Canada, to make it through. ![]() While winning Milwaukee a first NBA title is undoubtedly Antetokounmpo’s top priority, improving Greece’s basketball fortunes is also on his agenda in 2021. ![]() In short, Milwaukee succeeded where Cleveland couldn’t in retaining their star talent, when LeBron sought pastures new. Shirts will sell, and talent will be easier to recruit. While $228.2 million (€190.5m) is an eye-watering sum of money for a five-year deal, most consider it fair value for the 26-year-old basketball superstar.įirst and foremost, they retained the services of a two-time league MVP, ensuring they remain in with a chance of bringing a first title to the city.īut the Wisconsin franchise will keep benefitting off the court by having the man many are calling ‘the face of the NBA’ among their ranks. ![]() The 'Greek Freak' was the perfect candidate, and the Bucks took full advantage. To be eligible, players have to have recently won MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, or made an All-NBA team. (2016 Getty Images) Becoming a supermax playerĪccolades lead to rewards, and in December 2020, Antekounmpo signed the most lucrative supermax contract in NBA history.įor those that don’t know, supermax contracts were brought in three years ago and were designed to allow small-market teams to retain their top talent. Kobe Bryant hugs Giannis Antetokounmpo after a Bucks v Lakers game in 2016. In 2019, they won the league with Antekounmpo’s younger brother Kostas in their roster. It is only fitting to think that Bryant’s knowledge also benefited his Lakers too. Antetokounmpo is one of only two players in NBA history to win both the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year award by age 25. Antetokounmpo learned the “Mamba Mentality”, and Bryant taught him to play the game with the fascination of a kid. However, the Greek did jump at the chance to become Kobe Bryant’s mentee after the Lakers legend had retired. I don't want to see me to be buddy-buddy with me," Giannis Antetokounmpo told The Athletic. He is motivated by accumulating trophies, not friends. "If you win the whole thing, you've got to get better and do it again."Īnother example of the young Buck’s determination to be the best of all time can be seen in his off-season approach, where he notably hasn’t sought out training time with the likes of LeBron James. If you did not win the whole thing, you've got to get better," Antetokounmpo told reporters after winning the 2018-19 MVP trophy. You've got to be better than what you were last year. One of the secrets to Antetokounmpo’s success is to keep improving. Tapping in to Kobe Bryant’s ‘Mamba Mentality’ They suffered multiple housing evictions, while xenophobic attitudes further segregated the young family from Greek society. I would come back from practice at 11 pm and that is when I would have my first meal of the day.” “Sometimes I would go to school, no breakfast,” Giannis told Adrian Wojnarowski's Woj Pod. Giannis and Thanasis contributed to the family’s meagre income by selling bags and sunglasses on the city’s streets. Giannis’ mother Veronica was a babysitter while his father, Charles, worked as a handyman. Giannis was born in 1994, in the nation's capital, as were three of his four brothers: Thanasis (born 1992), Kostas (born 1997), and Alex (born 2001).īut as the children of Nigerian immigrants, they were never officially recognised as Greek citizens, meaning they were stateless. (2019 Getty Images) Growing up in poverty Greek-born Giannis Antetokounmpo signed the most lucrative deal in NBA history in December 2020. ![]()
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