“They could deport my parents” — Giannis Antetokounmpo opens up about his tough childhood | NBA News

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For Giannis Antetokounmpo basketball symbolized more than a dream because he used the sport as his route to achieve a better future. He lived in Greece without legal status because his parents were Nigerian immigrants while he worked as a street vendor, always worrying about their possible expulsion. Through numerous obstacles he discovered his athletic talent in basketball before achieving all-star status as an NBA champion for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo remained stateless for 18 years

Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo was born as a stateless child at Athens in Greece on December 6th 1994. He stayed without citizenship until he became eighteen years old despite living in Greece because of the Greek nationality laws.
His parents Charles and Veronica sought a better life in Greece when they came from Nigeria but experienced numerous difficulties because they lacked proper immigration documents. During this time he and his brothers conducted street sales of watches, sunglasses and DVDS to support their family.
He recalled those experiences when he said during his retrospective, “we sold watches with sunglasses toys clothes we sell a lot of did whatever we could I told my mom I’m gonna make it basketball and I’m gonna make sure that we have a better life”

The Antetokounmpo family’s lack of legal status cast a dark cloud over their lives, leading to a constant fear of deportation. Giannis remembers the anxiety that was a part of his childhood all too well. “The reason I was afraid was because they’re going to deport my parents. The next day, I could wake up and my parents could be in a different country.”
This constant threat influenced the family’s interactions and trust in others. Giannis noted, “When I see my parents having trouble trusting people, growing up I’m going to have trouble trusting people too.”
He later added,” They couldn’t deport me because I didn’t have a passport. Deport me to go where? Back to Nigeria? You couldn’t know where I’m from. I was born in Greece, I had a birth certificate.”
Through all the tough times, basketball became a source of hope for Giannis. At just 12 years old, a local coach spotted his talent and encouraged him to focus on the game. Although he initially hesitated — dreaming of being a soccer player like his dad — he quickly found his groove and shone on the court. His hard work paid off in 2013 when he was picked by the Milwaukee Bucks, kicking off an amazing NBA journey.
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The hardships faced by undocumented families worldwide receive visibility through his personal experiences which drive thousands of individuals to seek personal improvement.