Greek freak
And that he had a very Nigerian surname. He went by “Giannis Adetokunbo” for the first 18 years of his life until it was changed to its current spelling when he received his Greek passport in May 2013, just a month before he was drafted 15th overall by the Bucks in that year’s draft.īecause many couldn’t pronounce the young budding star’s last name (the Bucks had to provide a phonetic spelling of it on draft night), Antetokounmpo quickly became the “Greek Freak.” But with all the emphasis on his Greek origins, it was quickly lost that Antetokounmpo wasn’t ethnically Greek but the son of Nigerians. In December 1994, Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian immigrants Charles and Veronica Adetokunbo. Yet “Antetokounmpo” isn’t his given name.
![greek freak greek freak](https://e00-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2021/11/11/16366022947626.jpg)
The 24-year-old, with his combined six All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections, as well as top-five jersey sales, is best known by the 13 letters on the back of his jersey, letters that made him one of the NBA’s biggest stars. What he doesn’t go by, though, is “Giannis Adetokunbo.” And “Freaky Greeky” for those fond - or is it “fawned”? - of a very specific Valentine’s Day gift the Milwaukee Bucks forward once received.
#Greek freak how to#
Just “Giannis” for those who refuse to learn how to pronounce ethnic names. The “Greek Freak” for those who love athlete nicknames. Giannis Antetokounmpo goes by many names.