Giannis Antetokounmpo: 3 takeaways from MVP’s supermax extension
By Dalton Sell
No. 1 – Antetokounmpo remains true to his word about loyalty
Since the Bucks drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, he has constantly reiterated his loyalty to the franchise. Antetokounmpo’s agent, Octagon Basketball’s Alex Saratsis, spoke about this loyalty from his client to TMJ4 News of Milwaukee this past February:
"“He came in as an 18-year old kid who didn’t speak the language,” Saratsis said. “If you think about it, he grew up and is growing up to be a man in the City of Milwaukee. I think he’s always going to appreciate that.” “Giannis believes in loyalty, he believes in the people who’ve been there with him from the beginning, and I think he feels that kinship to the city because they have really helped raise him.”"
Giannis has never been shy about his desire to have a career similar to one of his basketball idols, the late Kobe Bryant, and stick it out with the same franchise for multiple decades. For reference, at his virtual MVP acceptance ceremony during the offseason, Antetokounmpo expressed his desire to build a winning culture in Milwaukee and cement his long-term future there:
"“As long as everybody is on the same page and as long as everybody is fighting for the same thing every single day, which is to be a champion, I don’t see why not be in Milwaukee for the next 15 years.”"
Antetokounmpo’s ascension to stardom in the league has not been a traditional one compared to other stars. Long before he became the Greek Freak, Giannis was a vendor on the streets of Greece just trying to help his family make a living.
In fact, when he started playing basketball overseas, Antetokounmpo occasionally shared shoes with his brother and current Bucks teammate Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Now, seven years after the Bucks gambled on an unknown prospect in Greece, Antetokounmpo not only has his own signature shoe, he has also signed the richest deal in NBA history.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s loyalty undoubtedly played a substantial part in his commitment to the Milwaukee Bucks, and now, he has some unfinished business to handle.