With great power comes great responsibility, or so they say. For Giannis Antetokounmpo, anything less than the franchise tag will not suffice in Milwaukee, the team around him needs their leader to be loud and vociferous. Two days ago, Giannis spoke in Athens before a crowd of journalist. Giannis and his younger brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo were organizing the inaugural "Antetokounbros 5K Run" fundraisers in the city they call home in the offseason (Thanasis on a full-time basis).
When asked to comment on how he handles the rigors of his profession, Giannis responded that he believe his own hype since the onset of his career. The response roughly translates to: "I felt I was the next chosen one since I arrived in the NBA. There is no pressure on me." Giannis reminded the crowd that real pressure is unthinkable, like scraping together food or resources below the poverty line. Giannis' personal story of joining his family as street peddler is impossible to quote out of context. The Greek people, collectively speaking, are experiencing the worst economic recession in the developed world since the Great Depression.
Giannis also used the occasion to plug his signature sneaker jointly offered by Nike for the upcoming NBA season. "Most importantly, what I want to emphasize is that there has never been a non-American player with his own signature shoe by Nike. What I want to say is that all dreams can become true, if you work hard, if you believe and you do not give up," said Giannis of his newfound mobility.
