By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A crazy story by Jeff Teague about Thanasis Antetokounmpo recently resurfaced across social media.
In a podcast conversation, the former player and NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks went through how Thanasis pushed through to become available for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks after their side fell into a 2-0 hole in the 2021 NBA Finals.
“Giannis’ brother, when we went down 0-2, he had COVID. So, he couldn’t come to the plane. That’s why we went down 0-2. Giannis was messed up. Like him and his brother, they got some different kind of connection. He can’t function or play if he doesn’t see his brother. I am being for real. It’s different, bro,” he talked about the relationship between the brothers and how it affected the Freak, “We’re in the middle of the game. I’m like, bro, we in the Finals, bro. Play…”
Following a 0-2 start in the best-of-seven series opposite the Phoenix Suns, the team coached by Mike Budenholzer bounced back with four straight wins to capture the championship.
“Where TA?” Teague recalled the constant by Giannis, “TA make this magical like COVID recovery. I know he still had it. Ain’t no way, bro. It’s 14 days, bro. He’s back in three. He’s back. His energy was like contagious. Like he running in the locker room, COVID, everything he got, yelling, screaming. And I’m like, yeah, he matters. Like, he makes a difference for our team. When he’s not here, something’s not clicking. But when TA was there, he made it. Like he mattered. And then somehow, he’s in the locker room, he does all that. When the parade comes, he has a ride by himself because he got COVID.”
In rehab over recent months, Thanasis’ contract expired after the 2023-24 journey, and he remains an unrestricted free agent.