Giannis Antetokounmpoâs story is so amazing that itâs even poised to have its own movie. The Greek Freak overcame all sorts of adversities and beat the odds to go from a street vendor to one of the most highly-coveted players in NBA history.
Now known as the back-to-back MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, the 25-year-old forward once had to share a pair of sneakers with all his brothers so they could all practice and work on their basketball skills.
Thatâs why ESPNâs Adrian Wojnarowski reached out to him to tell his true story from the beginning, putting together a 3-episode Podcast called âThe Giannis Draftâ in which he digs deep into his struggles growing up.
Giannis Admits He Couldnât Even Afford Food Sometimes
One of the toughest moments on the Podcast is when Giannis Antetokounmpo reflects on how sometimes he had to endurebasketball trainingwith an empty stomach and how he would eat just one meal per day when things got rough:
âLooking back with the way we eat, the way we take care of bodies, we didnât eat enough, not me not my brothers. I went to school, no breakfast, come home sometimes food, sometimes no food, then practice until 11 then I have my first meal,â Giannis said.
Thatâs one of the many reasons why Giannis is such an admirable person. His work ethic is almost unmatched, even by NBA standards, and his humbleness off the court comes from how much he had to endure growing up.
Now, The Milwaukee Bucks superstar is eligible to sign the largest contract extension in NBA history and make north of $225 million, but we can be sure that â even if he ends up signing it â heâll be the same down-to-earth and easy-going kind of guy heâs always been.
