Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the biggest stars in the NBA today. In just 8 years since he entered the NBA, Giannis has established himself as an absolute superstar. The Greek Freak is already a two-time league MVP, multiple-time All-Star, All-Star game MVP, and a Defensive Player of the Year. So far, Giannis has been on an absolute tear since his ascent to superstar status in this league. But as good as he is now, it is almost impossible to believe that he first rejected his chance to play basketball.
In a rare interview from his past, Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke to a Greek journalist about his beginnings in the Greek basketball circuit. He noted that a coach named Spiros Vielliniati approached him and his older brother Thanasis to play for Philathlitikos. While Thanasis was open to the idea, Giannis wasn’t so keen on playing basketball, as he was interested in playing football (soccer) at the time.
“I started to play soccer because my father was a soccer player. Also my big brother, and I liked it too. But some years that I played soccer, and I was approved by a coach in my neighborhood in an open court. His name was Spiros Vielliniatis. He helped me a lot all these years, and I owe him a lot, half of my success. He approached us and told me and my oldest brother Thanasis to come play basketball at Philathlitikos.”
Giannis did give Vielliniati a lot of credit for the person and success he has today. But he didn’t want to play basketball and kept rejecting the offer until he decided to accompany Thanasis eventually. At his first practice, Giannis completely fell in love with the game and has never looked back since.
“Seeing the height, my potential, body structure. And I gave a negative answer and my brother’s was a positive one. Thanasis started playing for Philathlitikos. He went there fore three months, and I wouldn’t go. But one day, I decided to follow him, I made my first practice, and then and there I was hooked.”
Since then, Giannis has been able to reach the NBA, and become a bonafide superstar. He is one of the biggest names in the league and is fighting for his first NBA championship right now. Antetokounmpo fought for all that he has and earned every bit of it. But he did get a little lucky because it all came down to a decision he made as a kid to pick up the ball on the court.
