Antetokounmpo: Giannis & The Greek Freak Are Different People
Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has come a long way from his rookie year when he was dubbed the ‘Greek Freak’.
Since then, Giannis Antetokounmpo has made huge strides as a player and as a person. On the court, he’s earned the title of MVP and off it, he’s recently become a father to his son, Liam.
Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t remember when he first earned the ‘Greek Freak’ moniker. Although, the Milwaukee Bucks lynchpin has embraced it as an on-court persona.
“I just went on the court one day and I had like a crazy dunk or a crazy block and after that everyone started calling me the Greek Freak. So it stuck by me, I love it and it’s a cool nickname,†he said.
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“The most important thing is you cannot lose yourself in it. There’s a lot of pressure, there’s a lot of things that are going to try to pull you from ‘come this way, do this.’ For example, this event with Nike, or tomorrow you’ve got to do this event with T-Mobile,” Antetokounmpo said.
“Like, there’s so many things that you’re going to have in front of you that you’ve got to do, but you’ve just got to be able to balance your personal life with the Greek Freak life. Giannis and the Greek Freak are two different people. I hope that doesn’t sound arrogant — I’m not trying to sound arrogant — but that’s how I’m trying to think. I’m trying to think when I’m with my family, I’m with my family.â€
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“Sometimes when you’re the MVP, you’re the leader of the team, you’ve got to do a photo shoot and all that, you lose yourself, and whenever I’m with my family, I’m myself.”
Giannis has had plenty of time to relish his role as a family man due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Bucks hold the NBA’s best record (53-12). As a result, he will be raring to don the Greek Freak persona again soon.
