“He had no idea who I was!” Giannis Antetokounmpo HILARIOUSLY bargains with clueless Nigerian vendor selling copy of NBA star’s jersey

Both of Giannis Antetokounmpo's parents were illegal migrants who moved from Nigeria to Greece in search of greener pastures.

“He had no idea who I was!” Giannis Antetokounmpo HILARIOUSLY bargains with clueless Nigerian vendor selling copy of NBA star’s jersey

Giannis Antetokounmpo visited the popular Balogun Market in Lagos, Nigeria (via Open Source/X)

Giannis Antetokounmpo plays professional basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. Hailing from Athens, Greece, he was born to Nigerian immigrants. Despite being born in Greece, Giannis didn’t automatically acquire Greek citizenship, as the country’s nationality law adheres to jus sanguinis, linking a child’s nationality to that of their parents, regardless of birthplace.

During his upbringing, he experienced the challenge of feeling like an outsider within both the Greek and Nigerian communities in Athens. This stemmed from his parents’ heritage and distinct skin color, creating a sense of otherness in the former.

Additionally, his unfamiliarity with the Yoruba or Igbo languages contributed to a sense of disconnection within the latter. Throughout the initial 18 years of his life, Giannis faced the unique predicament of being unable to travel abroad, rendering him effectively stateless without documentation from either Greece or Nigeria.

In a viral video, Giannis was spotted purchasing a counterfeit version of his own jersey at the bustling Balogun Market in Lagos during his 2023 visit to Nigeria. The Milwaukee Bucks sensation’s unconventional encounter was showcased in a widely shared WhatsApp short documentary titled “Ugo: A Homecoming Story.”

During their travels, the video captured Giannis and his entourage making an impromptu stop at Balogun Market. Observing replicas of his jerseys scattered around, Giannis expressed a desire to purchase one. Upon reaching the vendor, he engaged in a negotiation for his counterfeit jersey, negotiating with a seller entirely oblivious to his celebrity status.

Speaking about the moment, Giannis said, 

The guy giving me the jersey had no idea who I was. He knew Giannis Antetokounmpo but didn’t recognise it was me he was selling the jersey to. That was an even crazier experience.

Giannis’ original documentary “Ugo: A Homecoming”’s release date announced

This week, both WhatsApp and Giannis jointly announced the launch of “Ugo,” an original documentary offering fans a captivating glimpse into the journey of the NBA superstar to his homeland of Nigeria for the very first time. Giannis was obviously delighted with how the movie turned out.

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (via X/Giannis Antetokounmpo)

He said: 

Growing up in Greece, my Nigerian culture was some­thing my mother made sure we carried with us, but I was never lucky enough to have a direct experience in my homeland. Thankfully WhatsApp helped me stay connected to my family and roots, allowing me to create my own unique version of heritage. To be able to travel back to where she was born, and build a new Nigerian family, has been one of my most rewarding experiences, and only made me more proud of the many cultures that make me who I am. I’m proud to share this journey which I hope many around the world can connect to, showing us that we all have a dif­ferent meaning of ‘home,’ even when we’re far away from it.

As the newest installment in WhatsApp’s “There’s No One Like Us” film series, the documentary not only chronicles Giannis’s journey but also serves as a compelling call to inspire the platform’s 2 billion users worldwide. The overarching message encourages individuals to embrace their unique identities and celebrate the diversity that makes each person distinct.

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