By Giannis Antetokounmpo/ Follow @G_ante34
Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to join the national team of Greece with a two-day delay because of his trip to Africa and as he himself writes on his official blog for Eurohoops, he can’t wait!
It’s his second appearance with the Men’s team in a big tournament and what he’s interested in is for the Greek national team to succeed, with the player himself feeling more prepared to contribute even more to the team.
Giannis loves Greece, he wants to play for the national team for as long as he possibly can and as much as he has a say in it, while he already feels a great deal of responsibility in representing his country through the national team.
I feel Greek
“I was born in Greece, I grew up there, I went to school in Greece and I feel Greek. We played in the playoffs in the NBA and as soon as they were over the only thing I was thinking about the following day was to come back.
Jason Kidd took me aside and started telling me about the things I need to improve. I told him, ‘Coach, I can’t right now. I promise you that I’ll start working again very soon. Let me go back to Greece for a few days, I need that. I want to go home, to my friends, to my country and I’ll come back in a few days and work.’
For as long as I can, I’ll always be in the national team. As long as I’m healthy and as much as I have a say in it, I want to play for Greece. I know that, one day a lot might depend on me for the team to achieve its goals and I already feel that responsibility.
I think about the fact that, in ten years from now, there’s a chance that some of my brothers might also be playing in the national team and that seems amazing to me! To be able to say, ‘I’m going off to play for my country,’ and to know that you’ll be playing with members of your family. All of us playing for our country! That’s a big dream.”
We’ll look at each other in the eyes…
“I don’t want to talk big and mention medals and stuff like that. Coach Katsikaris will be mad at me! When we all get together and look at each other in the eyes, we’ll know what it is we’re going there to fight for…”
The fans in his life
There are a lot of people that follow and support Giannis’s efforts in the NBA as well as with the national team of Greece. The player himself explains how important it is for him and what a catalyst this support is for his mentality and the development of his career!
“The fans are one of the biggest weapons that I have in my effort to improve every day, to become a better person and a better player. Seeing so many people liking you, supporting you, telling you that you make them proud and watching you in all your efforts is the biggest source of strength and motivation that you can find. It’s fantastic.
The people have helped me a lot in my journey so far, in the US, where the Bucks’ fans show me their love, as well as in Greece. Especially what I get from the Greeks and when I realize that, with the time difference, they stay up late and dedicate difficult hours in order to watch me play; that is something that really blows my mind. I draw enormous strength from that.
I want to thank them, to tell them that the love and the feelings are mutual. I guess that most people who write me think that I don’t read it, that I don’t know that each one of them individually is sending me positive energy.
I try to read all the messages on my Facebook and Twitter accounts and here on my blog. Each beautiful message fills me with motivation, stubbornness, optimism; I feel an extra obligation to do everything in my power to do credit to them and to give them, from my side, as much joy as I possibly can. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
Lines that they’ve said to him
Giannis has sparked a lot of comments with his presence in his first 2 seasons in the NBA. Not only off the court, but on the court as well! Through his blog he recalls a few that have stayed with him…
Carmelo Anthony: Kid, you can’t defend me.
Marcin Gortat: In a game in the first season I had played 30 minutes as a playmaker. He was looking me up and down. At one point he turned around and asked me: How old are you? I told him I was 19. We were standing at the free throw side-by-side for the box-out and as soon as I told him I was 19 he looks at me and says: Keep working, you’ll make history.
Anthony Davis: He was trying to post me and I was using all of my strength, I didn’t let him. He turns around, shoots off balance and scores. As we were running side-by-side, he says to me: You can’t guard me young fella! As we were running together towards the Bucks’ offense, I process it and think about it. Dude, what are you talking about? You’re only a year older than me! In the next possession he was defending me and I scored that shot where I faked and I let the ball in with the left hand.
His favorite people in one word
Mom: Love
Dad: Dream
Thanasis: Twins
Kostas: The long one
Alexis: The phenomenon