Thanasis Antetokounmpo, like his brother Giannis, is a basketball talent. Although now a basketball star in America, Thanasis doesn’t forget his homeland, Greece, and emphasizes his heritage and country at every opportunity. In a recent post, he poured out his heart, describing his love for Greece.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo: His social media post about Greece
“Good morning. I am Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and I was born at Aretaieio Hospital. I say this so no one thinks we were brought from somewhere else or that we came from the moon.
I was born here; I went to kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school here. I didn’t have rich parents. If anything changed in my life, it happened through hard work. I found something I loved, and I follow it like a religion, until I become the best version of myself. We all start from the same starting line.
I had people by my side who helped me, like Mrs. Marietta Sgourdaiou, my godmother, a philologist at Arsakeio and an actress. She took us, 12-13-year-old kids, to hear a concert by Mikis Theodorakis. She introduced us to Mrs. Maria Hors, who dresses priestesses. I was initiated into Greek culture, into ancient drama. I read books.
Someone once told me, “Thanasis, you’ll be shocked if you read The Brothers Karamazov. It will open your eyes.” These experiences changed me without me realizing it. These experiences also helped me in sports. I was a child of immigrants without papers, without anything. You don’t need money to feel rich. Wealth is in the mind and soul.”