Giannis Antetokounmpo may be sidelined from the NBA playoffs, but he's found a way to stay close to the action by cheering on his younger brother, Kostas, in the EuroLeague Final Four.
Giannis Antetokounmpo may be sidelined from the NBA playoffs, but he's found a way to stay close to the action by cheering on his younger brother, Kostas, in the EuroLeague Final Four.
After spending time with his family at Walt Disney World, Giannis flew to Berlin, Germany, to watch Kostas' team, Panathinaikos, defeat Fenerbahce Beko in the semifinals.
“I’m very happy that my brother is not just in the Final Four but he went to the final game, you know," Giannis said. "I wish his team best of luck. The atmosphere here is unbelievable. One thing that I think we could add to the NBA is definitely the atmosphere of the fans and how organized this tournament is."
Kostas, who played sparingly in the semifinal win, said he was "excited" and "a little bit nervous" before the game.
"But when the clock started everything went away," Kostas said. "I was ready to play, compete and give energy."
Giannis, who is known for his close relationship with his brothers, couldn't resist interviewing Kostas after the game.
"I was very nervous, I’m so nervous when I watch my brothers play," Giannis said. "How did you feel before the game?"
Kostas said he was "excited" and "a little bit nervous," but that the nerves went away once the game started.
Giannis and Kostas talked about the game, their team's chances of winning the championship, and the future of Greek basketball.
"I think Greek basketball is on the rise," Giannis said. "We have a lot of talented players, and we're starting to make a name for ourselves on the international stage."
Kostas agreed, adding, "I think we can be one of the best teams in Europe. We have the talent, and we have the heart. We just need to keep working hard and stay focused."
The Antetokounmpo brothers are both proud of their Greek heritage, and they're excited to see what the future holds for Greek basketball.
"I'm so proud to be Greek," Giannis said. "And I'm so proud of my brother for representing our country so well."
Kostas added, "I'm grateful for the opportunity to play for Panathinaikos and represent Greece. I'm going to keep working hard and try to help my team win the championship."
The Euro League Basketball championship game will be played on May 26th, in Belgrade, Serbia. Panathinaikos will face Real Madrid in the title game.
