Thanasis strongly disagrees with Jeff Teague about brother Giannis Antetokounmpo's inability to perform without him: "He can play just fine"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo has denied claims that his brother Giannis Antetokounmpo cannot perform at a high level without him. The two siblings are teammates on the Milwaukee Bucks and while Giannis is a two-time league MVP, his brother has accepted the position of a role player in the lineup.
Speaking with Ivy Winfrey on a recent episode of the Afro Ballers Podcast, Thanasis Antetokounmpo addressed former NBA guard Jeff Teague's comments that Giannis cannot "function" if he does not see his brother on the sidelines.
"He can play just fine," said Thanasis. (7:42)
"It's a compliment towards me ... I'm there for my brother and I actually bring value to the team," added Thanasis. "There's people who are there and there is a support system. That's why some people are very successful ... LeBron James." (7:50)
Thanasis, who was born in Athens, Greece, was originally drafted by the New York Knicks in 2014. Prior to the 2019 NBA season, he was reunited with his younger brother, Giannis, with the Bucks.
Over 198 games with the Bucks, he has averaged just 7.7 minutes per game. Although Thanasis has seen limited minutes on the court, he believes he has added value to the team by supporting Giannis.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo was present at the 2024 Paris Olympics to support Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the headline name at the 2024 Paris Olympics for Greece. Although Thanasis was not selected for the 12-man roster, he made it a point to be in Paris to cheer on his brother.
Thanasis was one of the most animated Greek supporters during the nation's games.
Led by some strong performances by Giannis, Greece progressed out of the group stage and made it to the quarterfinals before eventually losing out 76-63 to Germany.
Overall, the Milwaukee Bucks forward/center averaged 25.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in four games.