Career Timeline of Giannis Antetokounmpo: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Giannis Antetokounmpo, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a Nigerian-Greek professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks, is known as the "Greek Freak" due to his exceptional size, speed, and strength. He is considered one of the greatest players and power forwards in NBA history.
February 1971: Franchise's first calendar month with at least 14 victories
On April 3, 2017, Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks finish an Eastern Conference-best 14–4 in March, the franchise's first calendar month with at least 14 victories since going 16–2 in February 1971.
1971: Bucks previous NBA championship
In 2021, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971
2001: Bucks advance to second round of playoffs
In 2001, Giannis helped the Bucks advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time.
January 2004: First for a Buck since Michael Redd won the award in January 2004
On April 3, 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in March, marking his first such award and the first for a Buck since Michael Redd won the award in January 2004.
2006: Matching longest streak by a Bucks player since Michael Redd in 2006
On January 6, Giannis Antetokounmpo had at least 20 points in his 14th consecutive game, matching the longest streak by a Bucks player since Michael Redd in 2006.
2007: Started playing basketball
In 2007, Giannis Antetokounmpo started playing basketball.
2011: Played for Filathlitikos senior team
During the 2011–12 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo played with the senior men's team of Filathlitikos in the semi-pro Greek B Basket League (Third Division).
December 2012: Signed with CAI Zaragoza
In December 2012, shortly after turning 18, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a four-year deal with Spanish club CAI Zaragoza, which reportedly included NBA buyouts after each season.
April 28, 2013: Declared eligible for NBA draft
On April 28, 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo officially made himself eligible for the 2013 NBA draft.
July 2013: Debut with Greek Under-20 National Team
In July 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his debut representing Greece with the Greek Under-20 national team at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.
July 30, 2013: Signed rookie contract with Milwaukee Bucks
On July 30, 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed his rookie scale contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, selecting jersey number 34.
October 13, 2013: NBA debut
On October 13, 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his NBA debut for the Milwaukee Bucks at the age of 18, becoming one of the youngest NBA players ever.
2013: Greek League All-Star Game Participant
During the 2012-13 Greek A2 League season, coaches selected Giannis Antetokounmpo as a special participant in the 2013 Greek League All-Star Game as a treat for the fans.
2013: Selected in the NBA draft
In 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo entered the NBA draft and was selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.
2014: Played with Greek National Team
From 2014 to 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo played with the senior men's Greek national team in 37 official games, in major FIBA tournaments, scoring 725 points with a scoring average of 19.6 points per game.
2014: First Appearance with Greek National Basketball Team
In 2014, Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the senior men's Greek national basketball team for the first time, contributing to Greece's ninth-place finish in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
February 6, 2015: Career high in points and rebounds
On February 6, 2015, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a then career-high 27 points and 15 rebounds in a game against the Houston Rockets.
2015: Participation in EuroBasket 2015
In 2015, Giannis Antetokounmpo played for the Greek national team at EuroBasket 2015, where they reached the quarter-finals and finished fifth overall. Antetokounmpo recorded three double-doubles and led the team in rebounds.
2015: Scoring average increased
In the 2015–16 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo's scoring average upped to almost 17 points per game.
February 22, 2016: First Career Triple-Double
On February 22, 2016, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his first career triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 108–101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the youngest Buck to achieve this.
September 19, 2016: Contract extension with the Bucks
On September 19, 2016, Giannis Antetokounmpo agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract extension with the Bucks.
2016: Established as devastating slasher and transition scorer
By the 2016-17 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo had established himself as one of the league's most devastating slashers and transition scorers due to his size and speed.
2016: Played at the Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament
In 2016, Giannis Antetokounmpo played with Greece at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, averaging 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game. However, Greece failed to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
2016: Leading the Bucks in statistical categories
In the 2016-17 NBA season, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks in all five major statistical categories. He also became the first player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
April 3, 2017: Eastern Conference Player of the Month
On April 3, 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in March, marking his first such award and the first for a Buck since January 2004.
April 15, 2017: Playoff career-high points
On April 15, 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a then playoff career-high 28 points in a 97–83 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
2017: Start of impressive season
Giannis Antetokounmpo began the 2017-18 season on a tear, scoring 175 points over the first five games.
2017: Analysis of driving ability
In 2017, an analysis by Stats SportVU showed that Giannis Antetokounmpo could cover slightly more than 15 feet off a single dribble when driving to the basket, which was 5 feet further than the average player in the league.
2017: NBA Most Improved Player
In the 2016-17 NBA season, Giannis Antetokounmpo received the NBA Most Improved Player award.
2018: Bucks defensive rating
In 2018–19 the Bucks flourished into one of the league's best defensive teams.
2018: Bucks started the season with consecutive victories
Starting from the 2018–19 season, under new coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks began the season with seven consecutive victories.
July 16, 2019: Thanasis signs with the Milwaukee Bucks
On July 16, 2019, Thanasis Antetokounmpo signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.
October 24, 2019: Triple-double in season-opening win
On October 24, 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 117–111 season-opening win over the Houston Rockets.
2019: Orchestrated team's offense
During the 2019–20 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo was responsible for 57.8% of the points the Bucks scored while he was on the floor.
2019: Played in FIBA Basketball World Cup
In 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo represented Greece at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, becoming the first reigning NBA MVP to participate. Greece finished 11th after failing to advance past the second round.
2019: NBA All-Star Captain Selection
In 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
2019: NBA Most Valuable Player Award
In 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo won his first NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
2019: Bucks defensive rating
In 2019–20 the Bucks flourished into one of the league's best defensive teams.
2019: Team Giannis' first All-Star Game win
On February 19, 2023, Team Giannis won the 2023 NBA All-Star Game 184–175, marking their first (and only) win in an NBA All-Star Game, having previously lost in 2019 and 2020.
March 13, 2020: $100,000 Donation to Fiserv Forum Staff
On March 13, 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family pledged to donate $100,000 to the staff of the Fiserv Forum who were unable to work during the suspension of the 2019-20 NBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 15, 2020: Signs 5-year extension with the Bucks
On December 15, 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo re-signed with the Bucks, agreeing to a 5-year, $228 million extension, which was the largest in league history at the time.
2020: NBA All-Star Captain Selection
In 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
2020: NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year
In 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
2020: Team Giannis' first All-Star Game win
On February 19, 2023, Team Giannis won the 2023 NBA All-Star Game 184–175, marking their first (and only) win in an NBA All-Star Game, having previously lost in 2019 and 2020.
August 20, 2021: Minority Owner of Milwaukee Brewers
On August 20, 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo became a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball.
2021: NBA Championship and Finals MVP
In 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971 and was named Finals MVP.
January 13, 2022: Multiple 30-Point Triple-Doubles in 30 Minutes
On January 13, 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 118–99 win over the Golden State Warriors with 30 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 blocks in less than thirty minutes. He became the first player to record multiple 30-point triple-doubles in 30 minutes and tied Michael Jordan's career mark of 28 triple-doubles.
February 8, 2022: 44 Points Against the Lakers
On February 8, 2022, in a 131–116 win against the Lakers, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 44 points with 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 0 turnovers on 17-of-20 shooting from the field.
August 2022: Partnership with Calamos Advisors for Sustainable Equities Fund
In August 2022, Calamos Advisors announced a partnership with Giannis Antetokounmpo to launch the Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Fund, an exchange-traded fund investing in sustainable firms.
August 2022: Rejoined the Greek National Team
In August 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo rejoined the Greek national team, preparing for upcoming competitions.
August 25, 2022: Scored career-high 40 points for national team
On August 25, 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved a national team career-high of 40 points, along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists, in a 94–100 overtime loss to Serbia in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.
September 2022: Executive Producer for "The Flagmakers"
In September 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo joined as an executive producer for National Geographic's documentary "The Flagmakers", which focuses on the immigrant employees at an American flag factory. He expressed that the project was inspiring and deeply personal to him as an immigrant.
January 3, 2023: Career-High 55 Points
On January 3, 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a then career-high 55 points, alongside 10 rebounds and seven assists in a 123–113 win over the Washington Wizards.
March 2023: Minority Owner in Nashville SC
In March 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo, along with his brothers Alex, Thanasis, and Kostas, became minority owners in the Major League Soccer club Nashville SC.
June 2023: Shareholders and Owners of Candy Funhouse
In June 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alex became shareholders and owners of the Canadian online confectionary retailer, Candy Funhouse.
September 2023: Executive Producer of Reality TV Show
In September 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed on as an Executive Producer of a reality TV show created by Candy Funhouse and the producers of Big Brother, Fly on the Wall.
October 23, 2023: Signed $186 million extension with the Bucks
On October 23, 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a three-year, $186 million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.
2023: Assists per game
During the 2023–24 season, Antetokounmpo averaged 6.5 assists per game.
2023: Participated in World Cup Qualifiers
In 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo participated in the World Cup qualifiers with the Greek national team.
2023: NBA All-Star Captain Selection
In 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
January 24, 2024: Recorded 42nd career triple-double against the Cavaliers
On January 24, 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved his 42nd career triple-double, contributing 35 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 blocks in a 126–116 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
2024: Carried Greek flag at 2024 Summer Olympics
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the Greek flag at the Opening Ceremonies and represented Greece in the group stage. He averaged a tournament high 25.8 points and was named to the tournament's All-Second Team.
2024: Assists per game
During the 2024–25 season, Antetokounmpo averaged 6.5 assists per game.
2024: Played with Greek National Team
From 2014 to 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo played with the senior men's Greek national team in 37 official games, in major FIBA tournaments, scoring 725 points with a scoring average of 19.6 points per game.
2024: NBA Cup MVP
In 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to win the 2nd edition of the NBA Cup, where he was named NBA Cup MVP.
2024: NBA All-Star Captain Selection
In 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
January 2, 2025: Longest streak in NBA history
On January 2, 2025, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points on 12-of-24 shooting, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets. It was his 26th straight game with at least 20 points scored on 50% or better shooting from the field, the longest streak in NBA history.
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