Becoming a famous NBA star was not Giannis Antetokounmpo’s destined path; it came unexpectedly. The 28-year-old basketball player considers himself incredibly fortunate to have found success in the sport. Unlike most basketball stars who started playing at a young age, Giannis only discovered basketball at the age of 13. Prior to that, he worked as a street vendor in Greece. Born in Athens to Nigerian parents who had immigrated illegаlly, Giannis and his family lived under constant threаt of deportation. As a result, Giannis had few friends and limited social interactions to avoid trouble. The feаr of police knocking on their door to check their papers was always present. To make ends meet, Giannis’s father took on various manual jobs, while his mother cared for the children. Giannis, along with his older brother and two younger siblings, also had to contribute to the family income. Giannis sold various items, from watches and glasses to CDs and DVDs. He persisted and held on until a customer made a purchаse.

Despite the hardships, Giannis found solace in playing soccer initially. However, basketball coach Vasilis Xenakis recognized Giannis’s height and persuaded him to switch to basketball. The promise of financial stability motivated Giannis, as his family relied on him to help pay rent and provide meals. Giannis and his brother Thanasis joined a basketball team together, but they could not afford separate pairs of shoes. They shared one pair, taking turns to use them. They often arrived at training on an empty stomach. Giannis revealed that he had no concept of breakfast and sometimes had his first meal of the day at 11 p.m. after returning from a match.

Within six years, Giannis’s basketball skills developed rapidly. In the 2011/12 season, he played for the Filathlitikos team in the Greek third division. Shortly before turning 18, he joined CAI Zaragoza in Spain. His talent attracted the attention of big clubs in Europe and America.

However, Giannis faced a major hurdle before entering the NBA Draft in 2013. He and his family were stateless. Thankfully, just before the draft, the Greek government agreed to issue passports to the Antetokounmpo family, albeit with a change in their surname to Adetokunbo to resemble the Greeks. Later, when Giannis gained fаme, the Nigerian government also issued him a passport, allowing him to use his original surname, Antetokounmpo.

Giannis wasted no time in proving his talent in the NBA. Bucks general manager John Hammond remarked that Giannis was a future all-star. NBA fans quickly recognized his exceptional skills and nicknamed him the “Greek Monster” for his height, speed, and agility.

In his first five seasons with the Bucks, Giannis led the team to the playoffs three times. In the 2018/19 season, he became the first Bucks player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He repeated this achievement the following season, joining an elite group of players who won two MVPs before turning 26, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James.

Giannis’s success led him to sign the most lucrative supermax contract in NBA history, worth $228.2 million over five years. Despite his wealth, Giannis’s first thought is always for his family. He bought apartments for his parents and siblings, bringing them closer together and providing them with stable homes.

Giannis remаins grateful to Coach Xenakis, whose advice to pursue basketball changed his family’s destiny. From being stateless individuals struggling to make a living, they are now recognized and admired by society. Giannis’s journey from a street vendor to an NBA superstar is truly incredible and inspirational.