History of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Timeline
Giannis Antetokounmpo, known as the "Greek Freak," is a Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks. His exceptional size, speed, strength, and Greek origin have earned him this nickname. He is considered one of the best power forwards and one of the greatest basketball players in history.
1963: Birth of Charles Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo's father, Charles, was born in 1963.
1964: Birth of Veronica Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo's mother, Veronica, was born in 1964.
February 1971: Bucks' First Calendar Month with at Least 14 Victories
In February 1971, The Milwaukee Bucks achieved their first calendar month with at least 14 victories since going 16-2 in February 1971.
1971: The Milwaukee Bucks win their first NBA Championship
In 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA Championship.
1972: Historic Scoring Streak
In 1972, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the last player before Antetokounmpo to achieve 200+ points, 80+ rebounds, and 30+ assists over a five-game span.
1976: Antetokounmpo Joins Elite Company with Historic Stat Lines
In the 1976–77 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo joined Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players in NBA history with back-to-back games of at least 40 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 assists. Antetokounmpo also became just the seventh player with multiple games of 40 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, and 60% shooting. Since the NBA–ABA Merger in the 1976–77 season, Charles Barkley and Antetokounmpo are the only players to do this multiple times.
1988: Michael Jordan wins MVP and Defensive player of the year
In 1988, Michael Jordan won both the NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
December 6, 1994: Giannis Antetokounmpo is born
Giannis Sina Ugo Adétòkunbọ̀ was born in Athens, Greece, on December 6, 1994.
1994: Hakeem Olajuwon wins MVP and Defensive Player of the year
In 1994, Hakeem Olajuwon won both the NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
2000: Historic 60+ Point Game
Shaquille O'Neal, in 2000, was the last player before Antetokounmpo to score more than 60 points without a three-pointer.
2001: Dirk Nowitzki's EuroBasket Scoring Record
In 2001, Dirk Nowitzki set a record for the most points scored in a EuroBasket game. This record was later surpassed by Antetokounmpo in 2022.
2006: Matching Michael Redd's Consecutive 20+ Point Games Streak
In 2006, Giannis Antetokounmpo matched the longest streak by a Bucks player of consecutive games with at least 20 points, previously set by Michael Redd in 2006.
2007: Antetokounmpo begins playing basketball
Giannis Antetokounmpo started playing basketball in 2007.
2011: Antetokounmpo plays for Filathlitikos in Greek B Basket League
During the 2011-12 season, Antetokounmpo played for Filathlitikos in the Greek B Basket League.
2011: Antetokounmpo begins playing for Filathlitikos senior team
In 2011, Antetokounmpo began playing for the senior team of Filathlitikos in Athens.
October 28, 2012: Baptism of Giannis and Alex Antetokounmpo
On October 28, 2012, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brother Alex were baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church.
December 2012: Antetokounmpo signs a four-year deal with CAI Zaragoza
In December 2012, Antetokounmpo signed a four-year deal with Spanish club CAI Zaragoza.
2012: Antetokounmpo plays in the Greek A2 League
During the 2012-13 season, Antetokounmpo played in the Greek A2 League, averaging 9.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1 block per game.
April 28, 2013: Antetokounmpo declares for the NBA Draft
On April 28, 2013, Antetokounmpo officially declared for the 2013 NBA Draft.
May 9, 2013: Antetokounmpo is granted Greek citizenship
On May 9, 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo was issued Greek citizenship.
July 2013: Representing Greece in FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
In July 2013, Antetokounmpo played for the Greek Under-20 national team for the first time in the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, helping the team finish fifth.
July 30, 2013: Antetokounmpo signs his rookie contract with the Milwaukee Bucks
On July 30, 2013, Antetokounmpo signed his rookie scale contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
October 13, 2013: NBA Debut
On October 13, 2013, at the age of 18 years, 311 days, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his NBA debut, becoming one of the youngest NBA players ever.
2013: Antetokounmpo plays in the Greek League All-Star game
In 2013, Antetokounmpo was selected by coaches as a special participant in the Greek League All-Star Game.
2013: Antetokounmpo is drafted into the NBA
In 2013, Antetokounmpo entered the NBA draft and was selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.
2014: Start of Senior National Team Career
In 2014, Antetokounmpo began his career with the senior men's Greek national team, marking the beginning of his journey in major FIBA tournaments.
2014: Debut with the Senior Greek National Team
In 2014, Antetokounmpo debuted with the senior men's Greek national basketball team, helping them finish ninth at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
2014: Thanasis Drafted into the NBA
In 2014, Thanasis Antetokounmpo was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 51st overall pick.
2014: Antetokounmpo Family Moves to Milwaukee
In 2014, the Antetokounmpo family moved from Athens to Milwaukee, following Giannis and Thanasis's basketball careers.
February 6, 2015: Career-High 27 Points and 15 Rebounds
On February 6, 2015, Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved a then career-high of 27 points and 15 rebounds in a game against the Houston Rockets, despite the Bucks losing.
2015: Individual Development and Increased Scoring Average
In 2015, during the 2015-16 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo significantly developed his individual skills, boosting his scoring average to nearly 17 points per game.
2015: Antetokounmpo receives his Nigerian passport
In 2015, Antetokounmpo received his Nigerian passport, giving him dual citizenship in Greece and Nigeria.
2015: EuroBasket 2015
In 2015, Antetokounmpo participated in the EuroBasket tournament with the Greek national team, where they were considered favorites for a medal. They went undefeated in the group stages but lost to Spain in the quarter-finals, finishing fifth overall. Antetokounmpo had a strong performance, achieving three double-doubles and a career-high 17 rebounds against Spain.
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 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. At 21 years old, he became the youngest Buck to record a triple-double.
July 2016: Giannis and Thanasis Begin Military Service in Greece
In July 2016, Giannis and his brother Thanasis began their mandatory military service in Greece, serving for three months as overseas residents.
September 19, 2016: Four-Year Contract Extension with the Bucks
On September 19, 2016, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.
2016: Emergence as a Dominant Slasher and Transition Scorer
By the 2016-17 NBA season, Antetokounmpo had become recognized as one of the league's most powerful slashers and transition scorers, known for his ability to quickly cover large distances and outmaneuver defenders.
2016: Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks in all five major statistical categories
During the 2016-17 season, Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks in all five major statistical categories.
2016: Thanasis Plays for Andorra
During the 2016-2017 season, Thanasis Antetokounmpo played for Andorra.
2016: FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament
In 2016, Antetokounmpo played for Greece in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Turin, averaging 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. However, Greece was eliminated by Croatia and did not qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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. It was the first such award in his career and the first for a Milwaukee Bucks player since Michael Redd won the award in January 2004.
April 15, 2017: Playoff Career-High 28 Points
On April 15, 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a then playoff career-high of 28 points in a victory against the third-seed Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
September 2017: Passing of Charles Antetokounmpo
In September 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo's father, Charles, passed away at the age of 54.
2017: Exceptional Court Coverage and Euro Step
In 2017, analysis by Stats SportVU highlighted Antetokounmpo's ability to cover over 15 feet off a single dribble when driving to the basket, surpassing the league average by 5 feet. He also developed a unique Euro step that allowed him to effectively attack the rim from the three-point line, making the area near the basket challenging to defend.
2017: Preparation for EuroBasket 2017
In 2017, Antetokounmpo participated in the preparation phase for the EuroBasket tournament, scoring 20 points in a game against Montenegro. However, he was unable to play in the tournament due to a knee injury.
2017: Strong Start to 2017-18 Season
Giannis Antetokounmpo began the 2017-18 NBA season with a strong performance, scoring 175 points over the first five games.
2017: Antetokounmpo wins Most Improved Player Award
In 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo received the NBA's Most Improved Player Award.
2018: Defensive Dominance and Recognition as an Elite Defender
By the 2018-19 NBA season, Antetokounmpo had established himself as a top-tier defensive player, capable of guarding all five positions. His versatility and presence in the paint significantly contributed to the Milwaukee Bucks becoming one of the league's best defensive teams, leading the NBA in defensive rating in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
2018: Increase in Assists Per Game
During the 2018-19 NBA season, Antetokounmpo notably increased his assists per game, demonstrating his growing playmaking abilities. This trend continued into the following season.
2018: Kostas Drafted into the NBA
In 2018, Kostas Antetokounmpo was selected with the last pick in the NBA draft.
2018: Period of Sustained Team Success
Starting from the 2018-19 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks embarked on a period of sustained team success. Under the guidance of new coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks started the season with seven consecutive victories and held a 25-10 record before the New Year.
July 16, 2019: Thanasis Signs with Milwaukee Bucks
On July 16, 2019, Thanasis Antetokounmpo signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, joining his brother Giannis.
2019: Exceptional Playmaking Skills and Offensive Orchestration
In addition to his scoring, Antetokounmpo has earned recognition for his playmaking abilities. While not the primary ball-handler for the Milwaukee Bucks, he effectively orchestrated their offense, contributing significantly to their points scored during his time on the court in the 2019-20 season. His assists per game also increased notably during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
2019: Continued Defensive Dominance and League-Leading Defensive Rating
The Milwaukee Bucks, with Antetokounmpo's contributions, maintained their defensive strength in the 2019-20 season, again achieving the highest defensive rating in the NBA, solidifying their status as one of the league's most formidable defensive units.
2019: Giannis and Family Donate Masks in Greece
In 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family donated 20,000 masks to people in Athens and Zografou, Greece, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019: FIBA Basketball World Cup
In 2019, Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA MVP, played for Greece in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. He averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. However, Greece had a disappointing performance, finishing 11th after failing to advance past the second round.
2019: Criticism for Lack of Jump Shot and Counter-Strategies
Despite his strengths, Antetokounmpo's inconsistent jump shot has been a point of criticism, and opponents have exploited this weakness. For instance, the Toronto Raptors employed a defensive strategy to neutralize Antetokounmpo's dominance in the paint during their 2019 Conference Finals victory. In response, Antetokounmpo increased his three-point attempts, averaging career highs in both attempts and made shots in the 2019-20 season.
2019: Antetokounmpo wins his first MVP award
Antetokounmpo won his first NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2019.
2019: Antetokounmpo is named an All-Star Captain
Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain in 2019, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
2019: First All-Star Game as Captain
Antetokounmpo captained an All-Star team for the first time in 2019 but lost.
February 2020: Birth of Liam Antetokounmpo
In February 2020, Mariah Riddlesprigger gave birth to her and Giannis Antetokounmpo's first son, Liam.
March 13, 2020: Giannis and Family Donate to Fiserv Forum Staff
On March 13, 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family pledged $100,000 to support Fiserv Forum staff affected by the suspension of the 2019-2020 NBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Antetokounmpo is named an All-Star Captain
Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain in 2020, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
2020: Second All-Star Game as Captain
In 2020, Antetokounmpo captained an All-Star team for the second time and lost.
2020: NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
In 2020, Antetokounmpo was honored with the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, acknowledging his exceptional defensive skills and impact on the game. This achievement, along with consistent selection for the NBA All-Defensive Team, solidified his reputation as an elite defensive player.
2020: Antetokounmpo wins his second MVP award and Defensive Player of the Year
In 2020, Antetokounmpo won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award and was also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
2020: Kostas Wins NBA Championship with the Lakers
In 2020, Kostas Antetokounmpo won the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
August 2021: Birth of Maverick Antetokounmpo
In August 2021, Mariah Riddlesprigger gave birth to her and Giannis Antetokounmpo's second son, Maverick.
August 20, 2021: Giannis Becomes Minority Owner of Milwaukee Brewers
On August 20, 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo became a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.
October 19, 2021: Antetokounmpo Starts Season Strong with Win Over Nets
On October 19, 2021, after receiving his first NBA championship ring, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 32 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists in a 127–104 season-opening win over the Brooklyn Nets.
2021: Kostas Signs with ASVEL Basket
In 2021, Kostas Antetokounmpo signed with ASVEL Basket in France.
2021: Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks to their first NBA Championship since 1971 and is named Finals MVP
In 2021, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971 and was named Finals MVP.
January 13, 2022: Antetokounmpo Ties Jordan's Triple-Double Record
On January 13, 2022, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 118–99 win over the Golden State Warriors with 30 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 blocks, leading both teams in those stats in under 30 minutes. With this, he became the first player to record multiple 30-point triple-doubles in 30 minutes. He also tied Michael Jordan's career mark of 28 triple-doubles, ranking 18th all-time.
February 8, 2022: Antetokounmpo Scores 44 Points in Win Against Lakers
On February 8, 2022, in a 131–116 win against the Los Angeles Lakers, Antetokounmpo scored 44 points with 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 0 turnovers on 17-of-20 shooting from the field, marking his 20th consecutive game recording at least 25 points.
August 2022: Rejoined the Greek National Team
In August 2022, Antetokounmpo returned to the Greek national team after a period of absence.
August 2022: Giannis Partners with Calamos Advisors for Sustainable ETF
In August 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo partnered with Calamos Advisors to launch an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on sustainable investments, known as the Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Fund.
August 25, 2022: National Team Career-High 40 Points
On August 25, 2022, during a 2023 World Cup qualifier match against Serbia, Antetokounmpo achieved a career-high 40 points for the Greek national team, along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists, but Greece lost 94-100 in overtime.
September 2022: Giannis Becomes Executive Producer for National Geographic Documentary
In September 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo joined as an executive producer for National Geographic's documentary "The Flagmakers," exploring the lives of immigrant workers in an American flag factory.
2022: Antetokounmpo Dominates with 44 Points in Just 28 Minutes
On October 22, 2022, in the second game of the 2022–23 season, Antetokounmpo recorded 44 points and 12 rebounds on 17-of-21 shooting from the field, playing less than 28 minutes in a 125–105 win over the Houston Rockets, marking just the fifth time in NBA history a player had scored at least 44 points while playing less than 28 minutes. He went 8 of 13 from the foul line to increase his total to 3,508 free throws, eclipsing Sidney Moncrief, who made 3,505 free throws with the Bucks, to become the franchise career free throws leader.
2022: Rise, a film about Antetokounmpo's life, is released.
In 2022, a film based on the life of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family, titled Rise, was released.
2022: EuroBasket 2022
In 2022, Antetokounmpo participated in his second EuroBasket tournament with Greece. He scored 41 points in a group stage win against Ukraine, setting a record for the most points scored in a EuroBasket game since Dirk Nowitzki's 43 points in 2001. However, Greece was eliminated by Germany in the quarter-finals despite Antetokounmpo's 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, as he was ejected for two unsportsmanlike fouls. He led the tournament in scoring with an average of 29.3 points per game and was selected to the All-Tournament Team.
2022: End of Data Collection for Senior National Team Career
By 2022, marking the end of the period for which data was collected, Antetokounmpo had played in 29 official games with the Greek national team in major FIBA tournaments, scoring an average of 19.3 points per game. Including all senior national team games, including preparation games, he had played in a total of 59 games, averaging 14.8 points per game.
January 3, 2023: Career-High 55 Points
On January 3, 2023, Antetokounmpo scored a then career-high 55 points in a 123-113 win over the Washington Wizards.
March 2023: Antetokounmpo Brothers Invest in Nashville SC
In March 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers, Alex, Thanasis, and Kostas, became minority owners in the Major League Soccer club Nashville SC.
June 2023: Antetokounmpo Brothers Invest in Candy Funhouse
In June 2023, Giannis and his brothers Thanasis, Kostas, and Alex, expanded their investment portfolio by becoming shareholders and owners of the Canadian online confectionery retailer, Candy Funhouse.
September 2023: Giannis Becomes Executive Producer of Candy Funhouse Reality Show
In September 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed on as an Executive Producer for a reality TV show created by Candy Funhouse and the producers of Big Brother, Fly on the Wall.
September 2023: Birth of Eva Antetokounmpo
In September 2023, Mariah Riddlesprigger gave birth to her and Giannis Antetokounmpo's daughter, Eva.
October 23, 2023: Contract Extension with the Bucks
On October 23, 2023, Antetokounmpo signed a three-year, $186 million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.
2023: Antetokounmpo is named an All-Star Captain
Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain in 2023, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
2023: Playoff Injury and Elimination
In 2023, Antetokounmpo suffered a lower back contusion during the playoffs and missed several games. Despite his return and a 38-point game, the Bucks were eliminated by the Miami Heat.
2023: World Cup Qualifiers
In 2023, Antetokounmpo participated in the World Cup qualifiers with the Greek national team.
January 24, 2024: 42nd Career Triple-Double
On January 24, 2024, Antetokounmpo recorded his 42nd career triple-double.
2024: Antetokounmpo is named an All-Star Captain
Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain in 2024, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.