The Antetokounmpo family left Nigeria in order for the father to pursue a career in soccer. A life altering injury destroyed those dreams and left the family as poor immigrants in a racist country. Food, shelter, clothes and shoes were barely, but the family persevered. In order to help his family, they accepted an offer of 500 euros, and Giannis along with brother Jonas, began playing basketball. They were so poor, friends, teammates, coaches and certain members of the community would give Giannis and his brothers food to eat. His older brother Kotas would play his game first, then turn around and hand Giannis the same pair of sneakers, to play his game (along with two pair of socks). Thru it all, the family kept smiling.

A student of the game, Giannis and his brothers would go to the internet cafe and study YouTube videos of Allen Iverson, followed by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He was determined to play in the NBA.

To date, this is one of the best biographies that I've ever read. The brothers are each other's biggest supporters. Younger brother Thanasis is Giannis' best cheerleader from the sidelines, although he should be playing more (in my opinion)… not sitting down ONCE. They all believe the youngest brother Alex, is going to be the best athlete yet.

This is why I will continue to sing praises for this young man! Go Bucks!!

Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently one of the biggest stars in professional basketball. He is the best player on the Milwaukee Bucks, the 2021 NBA champions and Giannis was named the MVP of the Finals as well as being the league’s MVP the previous season. His rise to fame is a very inspiring story and this biography by Mirin Fader is a wonderful telling of Giannis’ story.

His story starts in Greece, where he and his brothers Alex and Thanasis were raised by loving parents who were refugees from Nigeria. The family was poor – at times it was hard to read about how little food they had. When Giannis started playing basketball and had the drive to continuously work on his game, he started to get noticed by first Greek coaches and then scouts from other nations as well. Through it all, Giannis remained humble but focused solely on improving his game.

He did so enough that the Bucks decided to take a chance on drafting him after meeting him in Greece. His story soon after signing a contract for more money than he could imagine was very interesting reading as well, as he had trouble adjusting to living with the privileges being an NBA player and the associated money brought him. It was enjoyable to read about him not only sending money to his family (and eventually brining them to the United States) but also how he would still live frugally after being used to doing that for so long. Giannis’ manners and polite but firm discussions with his coaches also are frequently documented to give the reader a complete picture of his personality.

As for his basketball, his rise to fame also came with bumps in the road. His determination to play against the best players in the league came at a price, especially early in his NBA career before building up his muscles. I loved reading about Giannis’s determination and insistence on guarding Carmelo Anthony in his rookie year. That he wanted to test himself against, at that time, one of the best players in the league said volumes to his work ethic – something that Fader writes about frequently.

Like Giannis himself, the Bucks also saw their play and their fortunes rise, culminating in their 2021 championship. While this book was written before that occurred, it doesn’t diminish the quality of writing in this book and the complete telling of the story of one of the most popular and entertaining players in the game today. A must read for today’s basketball fan.
I wish to thank Hachette Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Listen, I'm a Wisconsin girl, and one of my greatest beliefs is that Milwaukee is one of the most underrated cities in the country (yes, I'm biased). This very well could have influenced my rating and enjoyment of this book - but I think anyone would be amazed reading about Giannis's journey and the man who he has become.

Fader takes us back to Giannis's childhood in the Sepolia district of Athens, Greece, where he literally would sell sunglasses and other trinkets on the street in order to help feed his family for the day. He often went without food or shared what little he had to ensure his family members were eating. We quickly learn that nothing is as important to Giannis as family is. Fader follows Giannis through his basketball career - starting with his introduction to the sport at 13, all the way to being drafted by the Bucks as a scrawny, malnourished 18-year-old.

We revisit stories of Giannis's start in the NBA we've heard a million times - like his first taste of a smoothie or the time he was picked up by a random couple worried that he would freeze as he walked to a game in a hoodie in frigid temperatures - as well as stories I'd never heard before. I saw Giannis as a big, funny, innocent kid (which he is, sometimes), but this book painted him in a new light: someone serious and determined to make a better life not just for himself, but for his family.

This book is about more than Giannis, too. Fader covers racism and far-right movements, both in Greece and the US. She covers the good and the bad of Milwaukee: we hear about what Giannis loves (the small town feel, the peacefulness, the people) and we also hear about its problems (the eviction rate, especially of black women; being the most segregated city in the country; racial profiling and police brutality). Fader also covered grief and loss: Giannis famously lost his father in 2017.

As a passive basketball fan, there were times the book got a bit heavy into basketball talk... but being that this book is about a famous NBA star, I can't really complain about that. Overall, I highly recommend this one. Whether you're a basketball fan or not, Giannis's story is a beautiful one that's still only just beginning.

One of the best sports books in recent memory! The journey of Giannis deserves a glance for any fans of basketball or the American dream. Antetokounmpo's outstanding story starts from a tough childhood to a fascinating NBA start to the ultimate goal. This book provides the best look yet at one of the best stories in BA history.

I loved learning more about Giannis, and his rags to riches story. I would recommend to a friend who likes Basketball.

What an amazing journey Giannis has taken, which is delightful chronicled in this book. The personal anecdotes and quotes really make this account of his rise to NBA superstardom really shine.

Thorough if deferential telling of the NBA MVP's unlikely journey from poverty in a Greek suburb to America. Good access to his family and lots of colourful anecdotes.

Milwaukee is my home so I was THRILLED to receive this. This exceeded my expectations. I thought I knew a lot about Giannis, but sooo much of this book was brand new to me. Even if you're not a Bucks fan, Giannis' story is incredible and will inspire any reader.

Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP was an excellent, in depth look at one of basketball’s rising leaders.

Mirin Fader conducted 221 interviews in the process of writing this book. It’s thorough, covering Giannis’s childhood in Greece where he grew up loving soccer and eventually came around to basketball, the bond he and his brothers share, the struggles his family faced — being evicted from their home and not knowing where their next meal would come from, the unfortunate prevalence of racism that still remains in Greece today, Giannis’s pursuit of basketball — a slow and steady one compared to many other NBA players today, and his arrival in the league and in America, as he attempted to adjust to the vast contrast in culture and life here, followed by his rise in the league.

I truly can’t fathom hunger at the level of pain and exhaustion the Antetokounmpo family experienced. It can be easy to judge athletes from afar, but they’re people first and so many have come from such humble beginnings.

I’m not a Bucks fan, but can’t help rooting for Giannis — He is a dedicated student of the game, committed to his craft, polite to all, grateful, devoted to family, has incredible athletic prowess, and is funny. While this book was finished slightly before the 2021 Finals, the Bucks winning the championship this year only further solidified Giannis’s place as a worthy opponent. His story is an inspiring one.

This book has 15 chapters, and about 350 pages, not including the Notes.

The Prologue starts by contrasting the tough times the Antetokounmpo family faced living through constant evictions in Greece; with the current living situation of Giannis and his family, in their large mansion in Milwaukee. The dedication to hard work that Giannis carries with him today, was clearly the result of the determination he had as a child to make sure his younger brothers and the rest of his family were safe and taken care of. The tough upbringing that Giannis experienced, made him appreciate the things he has now, and his drive to keep improving is rooted in those memories of the rough, hungry nights in Athens.

Chapter 1 details Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo emigrating from Nigeria to Germany, and eventually Greece. The author describes Giannis' early childhood, selling trinkets on the street, and playing soccer and ping pong with his brothers. His introduction to basketball is explained, and his lack of innate basketball skills. Still he attended practice, often hungry, and continued to get better, trying not to think about food.

The next chapters describe Giannis' improvement on the court, his admiration of his older brother, dealing with racism, and his passion for defense. The author reveals how Giannis was almost drafted by the Hawks, but ultimately ended up in Milwaukee. Giannis' transition to American life is explored, and his need to put muscle on his skinny frame. There are chapters discussing his loneliness as he struggled to get his family approved to moved to the US, and his his training of his brother Alex. The last few chapters document the passing of Antetokounmpo's father Charles, and the winning of his first MVP award. At the end of chapter 15, there are 20 different pictures of Giannis at various points of his career.

Overall, this was an informative and inspiring book. It is especially great to see Antetokounmpo's recent success, (finally winning a championship), after reading about his family's struggles. Their story is a beautiful one: after so much hardship, Giannis brought his family from poverty to great wealth, outworking his competition at every step.

The big takeaways from this are that nobody in their right mind would want Mike Bud to be their basketball coach and no one in their right mind would want Jason Kidd allowed around people ever.

The meteoric rise of a gangly draft flyer into a franchise player, now champion, and the greatest Milwaukee Buck. His humble beginnings are examined (as well as racial issues in Greece) and provide a sense of the player he has become. The book leans a bit too much on interviews with Alex, his youngest brother. I also would have liked an inside perspective on his decision to remain with the Bucks, but it doesn't feel like the author had inside access. A well-rounded biography of an amazing basketball player.

I'm excited for readers to have access to this book and to learn more about Giannis Antetokounmpo's life and career.

Perfect timing for this book to be released after the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship for the first time in 50 years!

I'd like to start by stating that I'm a huge Giannis fan, so I was happy to take a deep dive into the life of this talented, determined, humble and lovable young man. (As you can see, I''m not at all biased.) Marin Fader's book chronicles Giannis's struggle to survive poverty and racism in Greece and his indefatigable determination to "make it" through hard work and grit. What makes the book so good? Fader creates a structure that considers a number of factors (eg., social. political, economic) that have shaped Giannis's personal and professional paths. Best of all, the book takes us beyond the headlines with amusing, inspiring and poignant anecdotes, as well as quotes from Giannis and his family, friends, coaches and colleagues. (Wait till you read the story about the Oreos.) We see Giannis grow in his craft and become a superstar, while remaining true to himself and keeping family close.

One might see this book as a bit of a love letter to Giannis, but I'm okay with that (see first sentence). One other note: I thought the writing was a bit clunky in the first few chapters (repetitive word choice, awkward sentence structure) but things improved as the book progressed. If you love the Greek Freak, be sure to pick up this book!

I really enjoyed reading about Giannis's humble beginnings and was struck by everything he overcame to become the world champion he is today. This story is an absolute breath of fresh air in a sports culture that is often dominated by me-first. Giannis really shows the importance of family, values, and mindset.

As an educator in the city of Milwaukee, this book will be highly engaging for our students and provide them inspiration to overcome their own obstacles. I look forward to connecting many students with this book.

I have been a HUGE fan of Giannis for many years now, so I was extremely thrilled to receive an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. In addition to being one of the best basketball players in the world, he has always seemed like such a great human being - everything in the media showed him as a happy, kind person who always had time for people, no matter how seemingly unimportant.

Reading this book was very eye opening, as Giannis has always been somewhat private about his life off of the court. Learning about the family's struggles to survive in a Greece that did not want them until they could potentially do something for them was heartbreaking, but their overall optimism and love for each other was also just so wonderful to read.

This was a wonderful book. The author did a fantastic job of telling Giannis's story, with interviews from not just his brothers but also people from Greece who grew up with him and introduced him to the game of basketball. His hard work and dedication to being the best he can be is admirable, but his greatness as a person is sometimes something that is overlooked--and it shouldn't be. Giannis is truly a great role model, and their finally winning the NBA championship this year is an excellent "epilogue" to this book. I hope many people read this book to learn more about such a wonderful person!

I read an advanced digital copy of this novel courtesy on the publisher through NetGalley. Review available on goodreads.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has followed a true "hero's journey." From a humble beginning in Greece, he willed himself- and his brothers, to find success on the basketball court. Author Mirin Fader has thoroughly researched every aspect of what has made Giannis, Giannis. Through interviews with former coaches, teammates, and family friends, Fader has woven together the story of the complex tapestry of Giannis' identity.

An inspirational biography and compelling text, this book is a must-read for fellow Milwaukee Bucks fans, student-athletes, coaches, and anyone else looking to be motivated to become the best version of him or herself!

**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first sports book I have read and reviewed. My son is a huge Giannis fan so this leaped out at me when I saw it was available. This tells the very intense and poignant story of Giannis and his family. The story delves into the harshness and uncertainty of their lives as immigrants to Greece, the hardships and privations they endured. It showcases the determination and loyalty of the family to each other and to their new homeland. The way they embraced the culture and actively sought to be part of their Greek surroundings and culture and also how driven they were to improve their circumstances.

What shines through time and again is Giannis determination, but also his extreme loyalty to his family, his encouragement and support of his brothers and parents, his gratitude to those around him, his extraordinary work ethic and perseverance, and how humble and kind he is.

This is a story that resonates. You are with the family in their cramped and uncomfortable living situations. You are with Giannis and his brothers as they try to make a living for the family. You live the experience of Giannis transition from a determined player to the gifted, driven, dedicated individual he is now.

A moving and triumphant story.

As a direct result of reading, "Giannis" by Mirin Fader, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a new fan.

Growing up in Greece with two undocumented, refugee parents and three brothers delt Giannis a hard lot in life. "Fate can start you at the bottom. Dreams can take you to the top." Giannis' never stop believing, never stop working, mentality and the drive and support of his family, got him drafted to the NBA. Then, as you read, the real work began.

The biggest take away I got from this book is, you will not be tomorrow where you are today. If you have a goal, take steps toward it every day. Giannis took opportunities to learn and develop. He took notes. He asked questions. He was not afraid to learn from others. He looked toward coaches and mentors for guidance and support. And then, he worked. He worked longer and harder than anyone else on his team, because that is the level of dedication it takes to be the best.

This book had me searching on Google and watching basketball highlights of Giannis and Baby Shaq. It was refreshing to read Fader's descriptions of Giannis playing and then to watch youtube videos of exactly what the book described. I learned so much more than just about Giannis. It seems fitting to include in a book about Giannis Antetokounmpo some relevant and timely historical anecdotes of Greece (the country He loves), history of the Milwakee Bucks (his team) and the members if Giannis' family (that he loves so much).

The question I ask myself is, would I read this book again? Yes! The story of Giannis Antetokounmpo is inspiring and helps me feel entirely grateful for my life experiences.