Bucks’ Thanasis Antetokounmpo ‘almost’ ABANDONED brother Giannis Antetokounmpo for more minutes on another team
Thanasis Antetokounmpo opens up about near move to New York Knicks.
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Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (image via Twitter / X)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo faced a challenging decision this offseason: stay with the team that his two-time MVP brother, Giannis Antetokounmpo, leads or search for more playing opportunities elsewhere. He nearly made a significant move to the New York Knicks before opting to continue his journey with the Bucks.
When asked about how close he came to leaving Milwaukee for New York, Thanasis described his emotional conflict in an interview with BasketNews, stating, “Obviously, Giannis is my brother, and obviously, I love Milwaukee. I love Milwaukee. But at the same time… I want to play. You always want to play and feel important. And at the same time, you want, like… It’s just because of how I am as a player.”
The bond with his brother Giannis is undoubtedly deep-rooted. But Thanasis’ desire for recognition and significant playing time made the Knicks’ offer tempting. The Bucks won in this struggle between loyalty to family and professional aspirations, but not before he gave it a lot of thought.
His return to the Bucks was sealed after an interesting conversation with the team’s new coach, Adrian Griffin. Griffin’s acknowledgment and appreciation of Thanasis’ skill set played a pivotal role. “He values my game,” shared the forward, highlighting the significance of the coach-player relationship in his decision-making.
While the influence of his MVP-winning brother Giannis cannot be understated, Thanasis emphasized that the decision to stay wasn’t just about family ties. Milwaukee’s winning culture and the supportive team environment played a significant role.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s rich history with the Knicks
A move to the Knicks would have marked a return to familiar territory for Thanasis. The Knicks had selected him 51st overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. His NBA journey has been a roller-coaster ride, from his time with the Delaware 87ers to a short stint with the Knicks, followed by remarkable success in the European leagues.
Coming back to the NBA in 2019, he chose the Bucks as his team and has remained loyal since. In the recent 2022-23 season, despite facing challenges in performance, he showed flashes of his talent, particularly in a game against the Raptors.
With another season on the horizon, the Bucks and their fans wait eagerly to see if Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s choice to prioritize familial ties and team culture over personal ambition will lead to mutual success.
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Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)