Giannis Antetokounmpo is a professional basketball player who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He holds a mixed nationality of Greek and Nigerian. The player stepped onto the NBA court during the 2013 NBA Draft.
From a hostile environment filled with poverty and danger, Giannis made a miraculous jump to the sporting world and his story has many lessons for the struggling young minds out there. However, with two compassionate parents by his side, his journey became adventurous and smoother.
So, in this article, we are going to have a brief look at the parents of the basketball player and their unheard tales.
Who are the parents of Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The name of Gianni’s father is Charles Antetokounmpo. The man was in sports as well. He used to play football when the family was in Nigeria. So, it makes sense from where the NBA player got the passion for sports. It is very sad but true that the proud father is no longer alive; he departed from the world in September 2017 suffering from a heart attack.
At the time of death, Charles was 54 years old.
Veronica Antetokounmpo is the name of Gianni’s mother. The respected lady was in sports too in the same vein as his husband. She was part of the high jump team when she was at school.
Later, when the woman moved from Nigeria, she had to leave her passion for sports behind.
Why did Giannis’s parents move to Greece?
The parents of the Milwaukee star made a bold decision to move from Nigeria to Greece. The reason why they took such a decision is to ensure a better life for themselves and their kids.
Great day at @disneystudios watching an early cut of the movie about my family’s journey. Cannot wait to share it with the world 🙏🏾🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/W5KsWeFc15
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) February 8, 2022
It was 1992, when they arrived in Greece, leaving their eldest son behind in Nigeria to Charles’s mother’s care. But unfortunately, their plan didn’t work out, and they fell in great trouble upon arriving in the new country. As they were illegal migrants from Greece, Veronica and Charles had a tough time finding jobs. And the dream of a better life remained a dream.
In order to feed the family, Giannis, and his younger brother used to sell various household items on the streets of Greece. And their life there was beyond miserable. When Greece was undergoing an economic recession, the condition of the family got worse.
After receiving his Greece citizenship, the Greek Freak made a move to try his luck in NBA and got settled in America. And that’s how his life as well as the life of his family found a happy ending.
