Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greek: Γιάννης Αντετοκούνμπο, IPA: [ˈʝanis adetoˈkumbo]; born December 6, 1994)[2] is a Greek professional basketball player of Nigerian descent, who is playing for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Although nearly 7 feet tall, Antetokounmpo possesses the athleticism and ball-handling skills of a guard, giving rise to his nickname the "Greek Freak". During the 2015–16 season, he became the Bucks' primary playmaker, and in 2016–17, 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 total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He received the Most Improved Player award in 2017. He has received three All-Star selections, and led the Eastern-Conference in voting in 2019. He officially gained Greek citizenship on May 9, 2013, with the official romanization of his name being Giannis Antetokounmpo. His nickname is the "Greek Freak". Antetokounmpo's father, Charles, was a former Nigerian association football player, while his mother, Veronica, is a former high jumper.[9] Charles died in September 2017, at age 54. Veronica gave each of her five sons both Greek and Nigerian names, choosing the Nigerian Ougko (/ˈuːɡoʊ/ OO-goh) for Giannis. Antetokounmpo has two older brothers, Francis (Greek name Andreas) and Thanasis, as well as two younger brothers, Kostas and Alexis. He and Thanasis were teammates in Filathlitikos, with Kostas later joining the squad in the 2013–14 season. His oldest brother, Francis, has played football professionally in Nigeria, and both basketball and football professionally in Greece.
The entire Antetokounmpo family except for Francis and Thanasis moved from Athens to Milwaukee in early 2014.[104] In July 2016, Giannis and Thanasis began their mandatory military service in Greece. The two brothers served a reduced three-month military service, as prescribed for Greek citizens who are permanent overseas residents. Thanasis made his NBA debut with the New York Knicks after being drafted by the organization with the 51st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.[106] Antetokounmpo's younger brother, Kostas, played college basketball for Dayton before being selected with the last pick in the 2018 NBA draft, while his other youngest brother, Alexis, plays high school basketball in the US.
