History of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Timeline
Giannis Antetokounmpo, nicknamed the "Greek Freak," is a Greek and Nigerian professional basketball player renowned for his exceptional size, speed, and strength. He currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA and is considered one of the greatest players and power forwards in basketball history. His career is marked by exceptional athleticism and skill, establishing him as a dominant force in the sport.
1963: Mother Born
In 2013, Antetokounmpo selected 34 as his jersey number because his mother was born in 1963 and his father was born in 1964, so he combined the last digits of their birth years.
1964: Father Born
In 2013, Antetokounmpo selected 34 as his jersey number because his mother was born in 1963 and his father was born in 1964, so he combined the last digits of their birth years.
1968: Wilt Chamberlain had 70 points, 30 rebounds and 30 assists over any 2-game span
In 1968, Wilt Chamberlain had 70 points, 30 rebounds and 30 assists over any 2-game span. This record would later be broken by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
February 1971: Bucks Best Eastern Conference
In 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 First NBA Championship Since 1971
In 2021, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971.
1988: Michael Jordan won both awards
In 1988, Michael Jordan won both the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year Awards, achieving the same milestone that Giannis would accomplish years later.
December 6, 1994: Giannis Sina Ougko Adetokunbo's Birth
On December 6, 1994, Giannis Sina Ougko Adetokunbo was born in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian immigrant parents.
December 6, 1994: Giannis Antetokounmpo's Birth
On December 6, 1994, Giannis Sina Ougko Antetokounmpo (né Adetokunbo) was born in Athens, Greece. He is a Greek and Nigerian professional basketball player.
1994: Hakeem Olajuwon won both awards
In 1994, Hakeem Olajuwon won both the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year Awards, achieving the same milestone that Giannis would accomplish years later.
2000: Shaquille O'Neal tallied 60-plus points without a made three-point basket
In 2000, Shaquille O'Neal achieved a game with 60-plus points without making a three-point basket, a feat that Antetokounmpo would later match.
2001: Dirk Nowitzki EuroBasket high score
In 2001, Dirk Nowitzki achieved the most points scored in a EuroBasket game, prior to Giannis Antetokounmpo breaking that record in 2022.
January 2004: Michael Redd Won the 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 the first for a Buck since Michael Redd won the award in January 2004.
2006: Matched Longest Streak by a Bucks Player
On January 6, 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 Adetokunbo started playing basketball.
2009: Greece win medal
In 2009, Greece won a medal. In 2025, Antetokounmpo captained Greece again and led them to a bronze medal, the first medal for the country since 2009.
2011: Played in Greek B Basket League
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).
2011: Started playing for Filathlitikos senior team
In 2011, Giannis Antetokounmpo began playing basketball for the senior team of Filathlitikos in Athens.
October 28, 2012: Baptism in the Greek Orthodox Church
On October 28, 2012, Antetokounmpo and his brother Alex were baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church, marking a significant event in their religious upbringing.
December 2012: Signed with CAI Zaragoza
In December 2012, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a four-year deal with Spanish club CAI Zaragoza, reportedly including NBA buyouts after each season.
2012: Greek A2 League Season
During the 2012–13 Greek A2 League season, Antetokounmpo played for Filathlitikos, showcasing his skills.
April 28, 2013: Eligible for NBA draft
On April 28, 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo officially made himself eligible for the 2013 NBA draft.
May 9, 2013: Issued Greek citizenship
On May 9, 2013, Giannis Adetokunbo was issued Greek citizenship, less than two months before the NBA draft.
July 2013: Debut with Greek Under-20 national team
In July 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo represented Greece for the first time with the Greek Under-20 national team at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.
July 30, 2013: Signed rookie contract with the Bucks
On July 30, 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed his rookie scale contract with the Milwaukee Bucks and selected 34 as his jersey number.
October 13, 2013: NBA Debut
On October 13, 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his NBA debut for the Milwaukee Bucks.
2013: NBA Draft Selection
In 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo entered the NBA draft and was selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.
2013: Greek League All-Star Game
In 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected by the coaches as a special participant in the 2013 Greek League All-Star Game.
2014: Played with the senior men's Greek national team
From 2014, Antetokounmpo played with the senior men's Greek national team in 44 official games, in major FIBA tournaments.
2014: First time playing for the senior men's Greek national basketball team
In 2014, Giannis Antetokounmpo played for the senior men's Greek national basketball team for the first time, helping Greece finish ninth overall in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup with a 5–1 record.
February 6, 2015: Career-High 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: Joined the Greek national team for EuroBasket
In 2015, Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the Greek national team for EuroBasket 2015, where the team reached the quarter-finals and eventually finished fifth. Giannis finished the tournament with three double-doubles, and a career-high 17 rebounds against Spain.
2015: Received Nigerian citizenship
In 2015, Giannis Antetokounmpo received his Nigerian passport, obtaining dual citizenship.
2015: Developed Further Individually
In the 2015–16 season, Antetokounmpo developed further individually, upping his scoring average 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 win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
July 2016: Mandatory Military Service in Greece
In July 2016, Giannis and his brother Thanasis began their mandatory three-month military service in Greece, fulfilling their obligations as Greek citizens and permanent overseas residents.
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 Milwaukee Bucks.
2016: Established himself as one of the league's most devastating slashers and transition scorers
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 rare combination of size and speed.
2016: Played at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament
In 2016, Giannis Antetokounmpo played with Greece at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he averaged 15.3 points. Greece failed to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
2016: Led Bucks in Five Major Statistical Categories
In the 2016-17 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks in all five major statistical categories.
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 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
September 2017: Death of Charles Antetokounmpo
In September 2017, Charles Antetokounmpo, Giannis' father, passed away at the age of 54, leaving a significant impact on Giannis and his family.
2017: Antetokounmpo covering 15 feet off a single dribble
A 2017 analysis showed that Giannis Antetokounmpo was able to cover slightly more than 15 feet off a single dribble when driving to the basket, 5 feet further than the average player in the league.
2017: Excellent Season
Antetokounmpo began the 2017–18 season on a tear, scoring 175 points over the first five games of the season. In 2017, he averaged almost 27 points during the season, earning his second straight All-Star nomination and All-NBA selection, and broke Kareem Abdul Jabbar's franchise record for triple-doubles.
2017: Missed EuroBasket 2017 due to a knee injury
In 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the EuroBasket 2017 tournament due to a knee injury, despite scoring 20 points in a preparation game against Montenegro.
2017: NBA Most Improved Player Award
In 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo received the NBA Most Improved Player award.
2018: Bucks Achieved Period of Sustained Team Success
Starting from the 2018–19 season, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks achieved a period of sustained team success. In 2018, Under new coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks began the season with seven consecutive victories and went 25–10 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 and marking a significant moment in their professional basketball careers.
October 24, 2019: Triple-Double in Season Opener
On October 24, 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo started the 2019-20 season with a triple-double, recording 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 117–111 win over the Houston Rockets.
2019: Orchestrating the team's offense
During the 2019–20 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo was responsible (through assisting and personally scoring) for 57.8% of the points the Bucks scored while he was on the floor.
2019: NBA All-Star Selection
In 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo received an NBA All-Star selection and was selected as an All-Star captain, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
2019: Played in the FIBA Basketball World Cup
In 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo represented Greece at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, becoming the first reigning NBA MVP to play in a World Cup. Greece finished 11th in the tournament.
2019: NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award
In 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
2019: Toronto Raptors built a 'wall' to neutralize paint dominance
In 2019, the Toronto Raptors built a 'wall' of lengthy, adept defenders to neutralize Giannis Antetokounmpo's paint dominance in their Conference Finals victory, leading him to increase his jump-shooting output.
January 23, 2020: All-Star Game Captain
On January 23, 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo was named an All-Star Game captain for the second consecutive year, alongside LeBron James.
March 13, 2020: Donation to Fiserv Forum Staff
On March 13, 2020, Antetokounmpo and his family pledged $100,000 to the staff of the Fiserv Forum, supporting them during the suspension of the 2019-20 NBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 18, 2020: Second Consecutive MVP Award
On September 18, 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo secured his second consecutive Most Valuable Player award, joining Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan as the only players to win MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.
December 15, 2020: 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, marking the largest deal in league history.
2020: NBA Defensive Player of the Year
In 2020, Antetokounmpo won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award for his exceptional defensive skills and contributions to the Milwaukee Bucks, solidifying his reputation as an elite defender.
2020: NBA All-Star Captain Selection
In 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star captain for the NBA All-Star game, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
2020: NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year Awards
In 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
June 29, 2021: Knee Injury in Eastern Conference Finals
On June 29, 2021, during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a left knee injury after colliding with Clint Capela, resulting in a hyperextension, and he was ruled out for Games 5 and 6.
August 20, 2021: Minority Owner of Milwaukee Brewers
On August 20, 2021, Antetokounmpo became a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball, expanding his business ventures into the world of baseball.
October 19, 2021: Championship Ring and Season-Opening Win
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 Nets.
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: Triple-Double against Warriors
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, leading both teams in all those stats in less than thirty minutes.
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
In August 2022, Calamos Advisors announced a collaboration with Antetokounmpo to launch the Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Fund, an exchange-traded fund focused on investing in sustainable firms.
August 2022: Rejoined the Greek national team
In August 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo rejoined the Greek national team.
August 25, 2022: Scored a national team career-high 40 points
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, Antetokounmpo joined National Geographic's documentary "The Flagmakers" as an executive producer, highlighting his commitment to immigrant stories and American values.
2022: Release of "Rise" film
In 2022, the film "Rise", based on the life of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family, was released.
January 3, 2023: Career-High 55 Points
On January 3, 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 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 and his brothers became minority owners in the Major League Soccer club Nashville SC, further diversifying their investments in professional sports.
June 2023: Shareholder and Owner of Candy Funhouse
In June 2023, Giannis and his brothers expanded their investment portfolio through Ante Inc. by becoming shareholders and owners of the Canadian online confectionary retailer, Candy Funhouse.
September 2023: Executive Producer of Reality TV Show
In September 2023, Giannis signed on as an Executive Producer of a reality TV show created by Candy Funhouse and the producers of Big Brother, marking his entry into the world of reality television production.
October 23, 2023: Signed three-year, $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: Averaged 6.5 assists per game
During the 2023–24 season, Antetokounmpo averaged 6.5 assists per game.
2023: NBA All-Star Captain Selection
In 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo received an NBA All-Star selection and was selected as an All-Star captain, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
2023: Played in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers
In August 25, 2022, Antetokounmpo scored a national team career-high 40 points, along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists, in a 94–100 overtime loss to Serbia in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.
January 24, 2024: Recorded 42nd career triple-double
On January 24, 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved his 42nd career triple-double, scoring 35 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, dishing out 10 assists, and recording 2 blocks in a 126–116 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
July 10, 2024: Designated as Greek flag bearer
On July 10, 2024, the Hellenic Olympic Committee designated Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Greek flag bearer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, along with race walker Antigoni Drisbioti.
September 1, 2024: Marriage to Mariah Riddlesprigger
On September 1, 2024, Antetokounmpo married Mariah Riddlesprigger in a private ceremony at the Costa Navarino resort near Pylos, celebrating their union with family and friends.
November 13, 2024: Recorded 59 points in win over Detroit Pistons
On November 13, 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out seven assists in a 127–120 overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons.
2024: Represented Greece at the Summer Olympics
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the Greek flag at the Opening Ceremonies and represented Greece, averaging a tournament high 25.8 points. Greece was eliminated by Germany in the quarter-finals.
2024: Averaged 6.5 assists per game
During the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, Antetokounmpo averaged 6.5 assists 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 for the NBA All-Star game, leading the Eastern Conference in voting.
January 2, 2025: Longest streak in NBA history
On January 2, 2025, Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 27 points on 12-of-24 shooting from the field, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in a 113–110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, marking his 26th consecutive game with at least 20 points scored on 50% or better shooting from the field, the longest streak in NBA history.
November 3, 2025: Buzzer-beater against the Indiana Pacers
On November 3, 2025, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and hit a buzzer-beater to lift the Bucks over the Indiana Pacers 117–115.
2025: Played with the senior men's Greek national team
From 2014 to 2025, Antetokounmpo played with the senior men's Greek national team in 44 official games, in major FIBA tournaments.
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