By Adiel Kalonji | NBA Writer
In 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved what is probably the greatest accomplishment of his career by winning the championship title. However, a former Bucks player has made a surprising revelation about the two-time MVP in relation to those Finals wins.
At its beginnings in NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t necessarily seen as a superstar in the making. Some suspected he had enormous potential, particularly due to his atypical physique and his extraordinary athleticism, but few suspected that he would one day reach such a high level. As a result of his hard work, the Greek Freak managed to become a double MVP and win a ring.
It was in 2021 that the All-Star allowed the Bucks to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the second time in franchise history. The Milwaukee team had managed to win against the Suns (4-2)… However, the series was very badly started for the latter with two defeats at the start. In an episode of the podcast The Kick Clubwe were also able to discover the turning point of this duel thanks to Jeff Teague.
Giannis’ Secret Weapon Revealed by Jeff Teague
When we were down 0-2 in the series, Giannis’ brother got COVID. So he couldn’t come on the plane. That’s why we were down 0-2. Giannis was upset because he and his brother have a special connection. He can’t play if he doesn’t see his brother. I’m being honest. It was different. He kept saying, ‘Where’s Thanasis?’ We were in the middle of the game and I said, ‘Buddy, we’re in the Finals.’
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So Thanasis miraculously recovered from COVID. I know he still had it. It was unheard of. It’s normally 14 days, and he was back three days later. He came back, his energy was contagious. He was running around the locker room, he was screaming, he was yelling, and I was like, “Yeah, he’s important.” He’s a difference maker for our team. When he’s not there, something’s not working. But when TA was there, he made it seem like he was important.
Often criticized for his level of play, Thanasis Antetoukounmpo is even suspected of being part of the Bucks’ roster simply out of nepotism. When we take a look at his career statistics within this team with his 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds on average, the conclusion could go in this direction. However, he was able to play in Wisconsin for 4 years and is now a champion.
Currently, the 32-year-old winger is a free agent. As Jeff Teague pointed out, the energy he shows off the bench has never gone unnoticed. He is even said to be a source of motivation for his brother on the court. It remains to be seen whether the Bucks’ management will take this element into account in the negotiations, knowing that they are in a less advantageous situation than in recent years.
When he’s at his best, Giannis seems unstoppable today. But we also learned from Jeff Teague that for the Bucks superstar to perform at his best, he needs the presence of his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
2024-07-23 12:30:00
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