It is no secret that preparing to represent your nation on a global stage alongside fellow countrymen can be an incubation period of friendships and lifelong bonds. Notably, the bonds between the most famous friend group in the NBA (and maybe the world), the Banana Boat Crew consisting of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony, melded and solidified under the burning intensity and summer heat of the 2008 USA Olympic basketball team. Oftentimes, coaches will spend significant time impressing the values of chemistry and teamwork upon players who may be unfamiliar with one another prior to their national team’s campaign. Greek national team coach Thanasis Skourtopoulos avoided this issue altogether with at least two players when he added Milwaukee Bucks superstar and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo and fellow Buck Thanasis Antetokounmpo to his 2019 FIBA World Cup roster. The pair are best friends by choice and brothers by nature.
Two of five sons born to Nigerian parents in Athens, Greece, the pair began their basketball careers playing for the same club, Filathlitikos, where each gained prominence for their superhuman athleticism and skill. While the 27-year-old Thanasis – three years Giannis’ elder – started his NBA G League career in 2013, Giannis began his own NBA career as the 15th overall draft selection by the Bucks that same year.
“I always had, you know, the vision, the dream in my head that I’m going to do whatever it takes to make it to the NBA,” said the younger Antetokounmpo at the presentation of his new Nike Air Zoom Freak 1 shoe release in Greece. “But all this… this is insane.”
As the reigning MVP set off on a trajectory to superstardom, he has always made it clear via numerous social media posts that playing basketball with his brothers again has been a dream. This summer in China, that dream will be fulfilled.
While Giannis and Thanasis are surely overjoyed with the opportunity ahead of them this summer, the AntetokounmBros will play in the 2019 FIBA World Cup missing a key piece of their family dynamic. Kostas Antetokounmpo, their 21-year-old younger brother, will sit this national campaign out after being cut in mid-August. Kostas, a frequent part of the Antetokounmpo entourage, will have another chance to prove himself this year with the Los Angeles Lakers after spending last season with the Dallas Mavericks and their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.
NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (Far Left) takes a selfie with brothers (from L to R) Kostas, Thanasis, and Alexis Antetokounmpo after receiving his MVP trophy. Oldest brother Francis Antetokounmpo is not pictured. (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
Striving for gold in China will not be the hardest task that Giannis and Thanasis have had to tackle together. In a February TNT feature, Giannis spoke about the difficult childhood he and his brothers experienced in Athens.
“At the time, I was making like $200 a month trying to help my family,” recalled Giannis, referring to the time he was told he could be drafted.
“Let’s do something with our lives,” Thanasis would tell Giannis, “so we never have to do this again.”
A 2014 Yahoo! Sports article chronicling the AntetokounBros’ rise to success looks back upon, “those long afternoons and evenings on the streets of Athens as hungry, desperate boys, peddling sunglasses and souvenir trinkets to cobble together money for groceries and power bills.”
Giannis, Thanasis, and a full roster of another ten Greek hoopers will head to Nanjing ranked 8th worldwide. They’ll face off against No. 28 Montenegro, No. 12 Brazil, and No. 38 New Zealand in Group F. Then – if all goes well – they will set their sights on the podium where they hope to take home gold, a prize no Greek team has ever claimed.
Giannis and Thanasis will chase gold with the same intensity they chase all other goals. When asked about the importance of winning in China this summer in a recent feature for FIBA, the 24-year-old star made his priorities abundantly clear: “I would exchange the MVP title for the gold medal in China.”
