Career
Greece
In 2012, Antetokounmpo began his professional career with the senior men"s team of Filathlitikos of the Greek second division, after being part of the Filathlitikos junior teams, and also playing in the Greek minors since 2008, and in the semi-professional Greek third division during the 2011-2012 season. During the 2012-2013 Greek 2nd Division season with Filathlitikos, he averaged 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. He was selected by the coaches to play in the 2013 Greek All-Star Game as a special participant, even though he was not actually selected as an all-star, and competed in the slam dunk contest as players from the second division are eligible to compete in the dunk competition.
After originally declaring for the 2013 National Basketball Association draft, he withdrew from the draft on June 17, 2013, along with 17 other players, on the day of the withdrawal deadline.
He played one game for Filathlitikos in the 2013-2014 Greek A2 League season in a round 2 game against Ermis Lagkada on October 19, 2013. Delaware 87ers
On November 1, 2013, Antetokounmpo was selected by the Delaware 87ers with the ninth overall pick in the 2013 National Basketball Association Development League Draft.
On November 23, 2013, in his Doctorate-League debut, Antetokounmpo recorded 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, in a 117–106 loss to the Canton Charge. He also competed at the 2014 National Basketball Association Doctorate-League Slam Dunk Contest.
During the 2013-2014 National Basketball Association Development League season, he averaged 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks in 50 games.
On May 1, 2014, he was named to the 2014 National Basketball Association Doctorate-League All-Defensive third team New York and Westchester Knicks
On June 26, 2014, Antetokounmpo was selected with the 51st overall pick in the 2014 National Basketball Association draft by the New York Knicks. He later joined the Knicks for the 2014 National Basketball Association Summer League where he averaged 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in five games.
On November 3, 2014, he was acquired by the Westchester Knicks.
On April 22, 2015, he was named to the 2015 National Basketball Association Doctorate-League All-Defensive second team In 47 games for Westchester, he averaged 13.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.
In July 2015, Antetokounmpo re-joined the New York Knicks for the 2015 National Basketball Association Summer League where he averaged 6.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in five games. On August 7, 2015, he signed with the Knicks, only to be waived by the team on October 23 after appearing in three preseason games.
Later that month, he returned to the Westchester Knicks.
On January 29, 2016, he signed a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks. He made his National Basketball Association debut later that night, scoring two points in two minutes of action against the Phoenix Suns. On February 8, New York decided not to renew his contract, and the following day, he returned to Westchester.
Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece, to parents of Nigerian descent.
Although he is of Nigerian descent, he does not have Nigerian citizenship. He and his family officially gained full Greek citizenship on May 9, 2013, with the official legal spelling of his name being Antetokounmpo.
With Giannis known as "The Greek Freak", Thanasis is sometimes referred to as "Greek Freak 2". In addition, he"s also the older brother of Kostas and Alexis, both of whom also trained with Filathlitikos.