“People don’t call me the Nigerian Freak”: Giannis Antetokounmpo explains popular nickname 

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo reflects on his nickname Greek Freak, providing a detailed look at his Nigerian ancestry.

In light of his recently released short film on Amazon Prime, Naija Odyssey, Giannis Antetokounmpo tells his story of living between two countries and cultures, produced in collaboration with the WhatsApp messaging service. The two parties collaborated in early February of this year for content, events, and community outreach.

Who I am? In Greece he was Nigerian, in Nigeria he was Greek. He was caught in the middle, living between cultures. Check out my film, Naija Odyssey, in collaboration with @WhatsApp. Now broadcasting on @PrimeVideo. #ThereIsNoOneLikeUs pic.twitter.com/mp1xJdsljs

— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) September 21, 2022

In June 2022, Disney released a sports biopic about the Antetokoumpo brothers, chronicling their inspirational journey to the NBA. The film garnered many positive reviews. Therefore, it will not be wrong to call Giannis a generational superstar, given her ability to capture the imagination of millions.

In just 9 seasons, Giannis has established himself as one of the all-time power forwards. The two-time MVP is one of Greece’s best exports to the United States of America. Posterizing his opponents on a regular basis, the Bucks forward has received many nicknames, the most popular of which is the Greek monster.

Also Read: Steve Kerr Made Bold Claim, Compared Warriors Rookie To 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo

While Giannis has no complaints against the phrase, he wants his fans to know about his Nigerian roots as well. The former champion was born and raised in Athens to Nigerian parents.

“It doesn’t bother me, but people don’t call me the Nigerian Freak”: Giannis Antetokounmpo sheds light on his nickname.

Giannis, popularly known as the Greek Freak by fans and the NBA fraternity, possesses unreal athleticism, making him an unstoppable force in the paint with his long strides and ability to regularly put opponents off. Although he has no complaints with the phrase, he would like it to have a Nigerian twist.

Born in Athens, Greece, Giannis was the son of Nigerian immigrants. However, until 2013, the Bucks superstar was stateless and had no citizenship, courtesy of the Jus Sanguinis law. Fortunately, just two months before his NBA draft, the six-time All-Star received Greek citizenship.

During a recent chat with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Giannis opened up about his feelings on the Greek Freak moniker.

“It doesn’t bother me, but people don’t call me the Nigerian monster, you know, they just call me the Greek monster. You know this is a time for people to understand that I’m both, I’m not just Greek, I’m Nigerian.”

It was great to see Giannis educate everyone about his background and promote his Nigerian roots. Stateless at one point, the Bucks MVP today holds dual citizenship with Greece and Nigeria.

Also read: Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to follow ‘Kobe Bryant and produce a movie to compete for Oscars!