Milwaukee Bucks celebrity, Giannis Antetokounmpo, popularly recognised as ‘The Greek Freak’, has mentioned he is also the ‘The Nigerian Freak’.
The 2021 NBA Winner and two-time typical time MVP, informed ESPN’s Malika Andrews, on NBA Currently, in an job interview monitored by SportsRation.
Contemporary from #Eurobasket2022, the place he led the Greek countrywide crew to the quarterfinal, and completed as the event prime scorer, with an average position of 29.3.
Giannis sat with Malika and talked about various issues mentioned in his small movie, “Naija Odyssey”.
The which means of his name, his Greek and Nigerian heritages, and his nickname.
“You know I have shared it so lots of periods, it doesn’t hassle me,” explained in reaction to his nickname, ‘The Greek Freak’.
“But, people never connect with me ‘the Nigerian Freak’, they only call me ‘the Greek Freak’.
“This is the time for folks to realize that I am both, I am not just a Greek, I am a Nigerian.
“At the starting when my father was even now alive, and I was sharing with my mum, they felt some sort of way.
“You know as a guardian, I will sense some type of way, my son currently being identified as the Greek Freak.
“But you know, you are not able to pick out the identify the enthusiasts will give to you.
“What I will say to people today is, yes, I was born and lifted in Greece, I comprehend the Greek society.
“I talk the language, and I know the historical past, at the stop of the working day, I know the similar thing about Nigerian society.
“I am not just 1 detail, you simply cannot notify me what I am, I can explain to you how I am emotion, who I am.
“At the end of the working day, I experience like I am both of those, and I have the prospect to share my journey and my story.
“Actually, I am not heading to lie, the initial time I saw it, I kinda felt that way.
“But I understand why simply because I do the kind of issues that a great deal of men and women simply cannot do out there, I like the nickname.
“I like ‘The Greek Freak’, but I am also ‘The Nigerian Freak’. I am not just a Greek but a Nigerian also.
“When raising my children, I am not just going to educate them about the Greek culture by yourself, I am also going to instruct them about the Nigerian society.
“That is what my moms and dads did for me, and that is what I am attempting to do to my children.
“So very good, as long as I am in a position to share my story, and make individuals notice the place I am coming from, and I am happy Whatsapp gave me the system to do that.”
You mentioned when you are in Greece, you are named Nigerian, when in Nigeria, you were identified as a Greek – what do you get in touch with oneself?
“I am both of those Greek and Nigerian,” reported Giannis.
“I am Greeko, Nigeriano.
“In Greece, you are not Greek plenty of – you know, we have distinctive colours,
“When I perform with my African mates, they puzzled if I was Nigerian enough, do I communicate the languages, do I speak Yoruba or Ibo.”
Naija Odyssey is a shorter film built in collaboration with Whatsapp, narrated by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
You can view the documentary beneath: