Who was Charles Antetokounmpo? Meet the Father of Bucks’s Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo
Charles Antetokounmpo was the father of Greek-Nigerian player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Besides being the father of the Bucks’ forward, Charles was also a soccer player. He was born in Nigeria, but in 1991, he moved with his family to Athens, Greece, in search of a better life. Despite moving to Athens seeking a better life, things were not easy at first. It was hard for him to get a job since he did not have any papers. As such, despite knowing how to play football, Charles had to do odd jobs so that he could make money to cater to his family’s needs.
Life in Athens
While in Nigeria, Charles Antetokounmpo played football, but things were not any good. He did not make much from his career. As such, he decided to move to Greece. Charles and his wife moved, but they decided to leave their only son, Francis, in Nigeria. While in Athens, Greece, Charles and his wife had four more children. Normally, if a child is born in a country, he gains citizenship for that country. It was not the case for Charles’s children.
Greece has a rule in which for one to become a citizen by birth, one of the parents has to be Greek. In Charles’s case, his wife and he were Nigerians, and that could not qualify his children for citizenship.
Life was not easy in Greece. Charles and his wife did not have work permits. They could not get better jobs, but they could take whatever they could get. In addition to that, they encouraged their sons to help in selling watches, sunglasses, and handbags in the streets so that they could make extra cash.
Death
Charles Antetokounmpo died on September 27, 2017, following a heart attack. His death was a big loss to his family. While speaking to NBA.com, Giannis noted that it was tough losing someone like his father. He further noted that his father has always been present, and they were close. Charles was 54 when he died.
His Children
All of Charles’s sons ventured into the sports world. His eldest son Francis played football in Greece. He seems to be the only one who wanted to play the same game as his father. All his other children play basketball and were drafted into the NBA. His sons were the reason why they had to move to the United States.
Three of Charles’s sons have won the NBA; Kostas won it in 2020 with L. A Lakers while Giannis and Thanasis won it with Milwaukee Bucks the following year. Charles’s sons began their basketball career in Greece before moving to the United States. On his arrival in the United States, people could not pronounce his second name, and as such, they decided to refer to him as the “Greek Freak.”
Giannis and his brothers have had great careers in the NBA, and they inspired the movie Rise. While speaking to the New York Post, Giannis credited his parents for the effort they made to ensure they are where they are today.