Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the league, and many view him as the most dominant two-way player in the game today. He is definitely an MVP-level player, and last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 29.9 PPG, 11.6 RPG, and 5.8 APG for the Milwaukee Bucks.
As one of the best players in the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo has received a lot of nicknames from fans. One of the most prominent nicknames used for him is the “Greek Freak”, which is obviously referring to him being from Greece and his freakish athleticism.
In a recent appearance on ESPN, Giannis Antetokounmpo commented on his “Greek Freak” nickname. Antetokounmpo noted that it doesn’t bother him, but took the time to highlight that he is not just Greek, but that he is also Nigerian as well.
“I hear it so many time. It doesn’t bother me but people don’t call me the Nigerian Freak, they all call me the Greek Freak. This is a time for people to understand that I’m both. I’m not just Greek, I’m Nigerian. When my dad was here and my mom was talking about it, they felt for sure that type of way about it… But you cannot choose nickname that people want to give to you… I was born and raised in Greece, I understand the Greek culture and I speak the language, and I know the history. At the end of the day, I know the same things about Nigerian culture. I’m not just one thing… I feel like I am both.
There is no doubt that this is a valid stance for Giannis Antetokounmpo to have. He certainly has connections to Greece due to his upbringing there, but has clear ties to Nigeria as well.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Spoken About His Nigerian Origins Before
In a 2021 interview, Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about his Nigerian heritage, claiming that there was “no Greek culture” in his family home, adding that “it’s straight up Nigerian culture”.
“Obviously, a lot of people don’t know where I’m from. A lot of people think my mom or my dad are from Greece, but no. Both of my parents are black. Both of my parents are Nigerian…I grew up in a Nigerian home. Obviously, I was born in Greece and went to school in Greece. But at the end of the day when I go home, there is no Greek culture. It’s straight-up Nigerian culture. It’s about discipline, it’s about respecting your elders, having morals.”
Though Giannis Antetokounmpo obviously has a lot of pride in his Nigerian culture, he still also identifies with being Greek. He competed for the team in the EuroBasket tournament, though they were ultimately unable to get the gold.
As of right now, Giannis Antetokounmpo is likely preparing to start the season with the Milwaukee Bucks. There’s no doubt that they’re going to be contenders, and perhaps we’ll see Giannis Antetokounmpo lead them to another championship in the future.
