With his Milwaukee Bucks eliminated from the playoffs and his second NBA season finished, Giannis Antetokounmpo is back where it all began.
The freakishly athletic 20-year-old has returned to Greece, and specifically the basketball court where he learned to love the game. Earlier this week he posted a note to Twitter essentially saying that he and his brother, New York Knicks prospect Thanasis Antetokounmpo, would be playing a pickup game at the courts in the Sepolia neighborhood of Athens.
Είμαστε οκ για σήμερα; 7 το απόγευμα στο ανοιχτό γήπεδο του Τρίτωνα στα Σεπόλια. pic.twitter.com/tzXDU2oHiB
— GiannisAntetokounmpo (@G_ante34) May 12, 2015
A huge crowd showed up to watch the Antetokounmpos embarrass a handful of brave challengers.
Yesterday, @G_ante34 & @Adeto_kouboS took to their old playground in Athens to play hoops » http://t.co/NgXYL2RosA pic.twitter.com/dOoVz3aDHT
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 13, 2015
Antetokounmpo put on a display that included the type of smooth handles and rim-rocking dunks that have led to him earning the nickname "The Greek Freak." Thanasis, who is two years older than Giannis and plays for the Knicks' D-League team, didn't look too bad either.
After being named to the NBA's All-Rookie second team, Giannis took another step forward in 2014-15. He played in 81 games and averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds. He took and made fewer three-pointers -- he hit 34.7 percent his rookie season and only 16 precent in 2015 -- but he says he'll be working on his shot during the offseason.
"Next season I'll add the three-pointer," Antetokounmpo told EuroHoops.net. "I don’t have to start shooting a lot of three-pointers. From now on, when I’m free I'll execute. When I decide to add an element to my game and I set that as a goal, I’ll manage it, without a doubt."
Antetokounmpo has enjoyed life in the United States and has quickly become a fan favorite. After growing up in poverty he now has enough money to live comfortably, and he's got the car to match his roughly $1.9 million salary.