When three brothers played in the NBA, it changed their lives.

The three Antetokounmpo brothers transformed their lives by joining the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The Antetokounmpo brothers—Giannis, Thanasis, and Kostas—are well-known figures in the NBA. All three faced challenging childhoods and had to work hard to support themselves. Their passion for basketball ultimately led them to the NBA, a move that changed their lives forever.

Growing up in Greece, the brothers faced difficulties obtaining citizenship. In 2007, Giannis was discovered by the Filathlitikos club due to his impressive basketball skills. This pivotal moment enabled the entire Giannis family to become Greek citizens, receiving financial assistance and job opportunities to improve their situation.

Giannis quickly showcased his explosive playing style at Filathlitikos, which propelled him into the 2013 NBA Draft. The Milwaukee Bucks selected him in the first round, 15th overall. At the time, many were skeptical about Giannis’s potential due to his height of 2.11 m and his unconventional skill set. Being from Europe presented additional challenges compared to his American peers.

Despite the doubts, Giannis proved the naysayers wrong. After seven years in the league, he emerged as a major star, earning four All-Star selections, making the NBA All-Star Team twice, and winning back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player awards. Remarkably, Giannis is only 26 years old and continues to have a bright future ahead in the NBA.

Giannis reflected, “Coming to the NBA was something that was only in my dreams.” After eight years in the league, he earned an annual salary of $106 million. He recently signed a new five-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks worth a total of $228 million.

Following Giannis, the next two Antetokounmpo brothers entered the NBA. Thanasis was selected by the New York Knicks with the 51st pick in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft. After two years, the Knicks released him, leading him to join his younger brother Giannis on the Bucks. Thanasis earned $1.7 million for the 2020–21 season.

Kostas was chosen by the Philadelphia 76ers in the final round of the 2018 NBA Draft. He later played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. Kostas and the Lakers won the NBA title in the 2019–20 season. As a member of the Lakers, Kostas earns $1 million annually.

The three Antetokounmpo brothers are currently key players on the Greek national basketball team. Giannis asserts that he will remain among the best basketball players in the world. While it’s unlikely that Thanasis will see significant growth, Kostas is poised for a major breakthrough in the 2020/21 NBA season.

Alexis, the youngest brother in the Antetokounmpo family, aspires to become a basketball player. He currently competes in the NCAA (American College Basketball Tournament). Experts believe that Alexis has the potential to play in the NBA one day.