Giannis Antetokounmpo and the memory of seeing Bentley for the first time in his life. Coming from a poor background, Giannis Antetokounmpo always feels confused with the material culture in the United States, where he lives.
Although he is the player with the largest salary in the NBA today, Giannis Antetokounmpo still retains the simple features of his old self. Luxurious material things are something that is unfamiliar to the former MVP, so he always feels extremely excited when he sees the luxurious life coming from his Milwaukee Bucks teammates.
Despite his huge salary, Giannis Antetokounmpo is still simple
Growing up in the Athens suburb of Sepolia, life was not easy for Giannis’ family. Both parents had a hard time finding stable jobs to cover so many mouths to feed. His father worked as a house repairman, and his mother worked as a maid for middle-class families. That’s why Giannis also had to work hard from a young age to make a living to help his family. Giannis’s childhood was spent spending days in the rain and sunshine selling goods ranging from watches and sunglasses to handbags on the sidewalks of the Greek capital.
An empty refrigerator is the biggest fear for the Antetokounmpo children. It’s sad that at an age where they should be protected and given the opportunity to develop, Giannis and his brothers have to bear some responsibility for the family’s food. The days when we sell a lot of goods are the happiest days because we can bring money home to help our parents have enough for the electricity bill and a fuller hot meal.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s poor but warm childhood
Basketball is what saved Giannis Antetokounmpo’s life as well as his entire family’s. Thanks to it, former player Filathlitikos had a life-changing opportunity when he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 15th pick in 2013. His extraordinary progress was rewarded with a contract worth up to 228 million USD. The extension signed at the end of 2020 officially made the Greek player the highest-paid person in the NBA.
However, fans still often only see the superstar wearing shirt number 34, appearing in simple sports clothes and shoes sponsored by Nike. Giannis Antetokounmpo is in stark contrast to his teammates, who prefer a luxurious lifestyle. This is actually not bad because the money these players earn also comes in exchange for a lot of sacrifices, sweat, and tears.
Giannis Antetokounmpo usually only wears sponsored clothing
Back to the story, the person who impressed Giannis Antetokounmpo the most was PJ Tucker, or the “sneaker king” in the NBA. Not only famous for his shoe collection, PJ Tucker also has many other expensive hobbies, such as collecting super-luxury cars or high-end fashion. During a practice session, the camera lens caught a humorous conversation between the two.
“You have diamonds on your shoes, PJ Tucker. The first time I saw a Bentley, it was in Phoenix. At that time, I didn’t even know, so I asked what car brand this was and was told it was Bentley. It turns out it was your car.” PJ Tucker only responded with a bright laugh and a humorous rebuttal: “He’s a liar, you liar.”
extremely funny exchange between Giannis Antetokounmpo and PJ Tucker
The above small story not only shows the simplicity of Giannis Antetokounmpo but also ensures fans of the friendship within the Milwaukee Bucks. This is a sign that helps fans of the Eastern representative gain more confidence in the solidarity coming from those who hold the great responsibility ahead in the remainder of the 2021 NBA finals.