Antetokounmpo brothers remain teammates at the Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been reunited with his older brother, Thanasis, who has been re-signed by the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season. The 31-year-old forward has been part of the Bucks’ roster since joining from Greek side Panathinaikos in 2019. He won the NBA Championship with his brother and the Bucks in 2021 and is set to play a fifth straight season for Milwaukee.
That’s despite having to settle for relatively minimal game time in the 2022-23 NBA season, slipping outside of Mike Budenholzer’s roster rotation, having been a regular in the two previous seasons. In total, Thanasis has figured 162 times for the Bucks, averaging almost three points and two rebounds per appearance. Although these figures may seem somewhat insignificant, the feeling is that Giannis’ older brother is a positive influence both on him and the rest of the Bucks’ locker room.
The “Antetokounmpo factor” still makes the Bucks a force to be reckoned with
The Bucks are expected to be challenging for the 2023-24 NBA Championship once again. They are considered third favourites in the futures market with FanDuel, pricing Milwaukee at +600, with only Boston Celtics (+470) and Denver Nuggets (+480) rated higher. This sportsbook has evolved in recent years, from being solely focused on daily fantasy sports to focusing on real-world sports betting markets as well as regulated iGaming. It also offers a market leading casino bonus in Michigan and other US states which individually license and regulate iGaming.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo becomes the 15th and final signing for the Bucks in the offseason, filling Milwaukee’s roster for the 2023-24 NBA season. There’s no more open spots as the teams enter the free agency period, which means the Bucks would need to let someone go before bringing anyone else into the locker room.
Thanasis’ NBA story so far
The older of the two Antetokounmpos has been knocking around the American basketball scene since 2013 when he was hand-picked in the NBA Development League draft by the Delaware 87ers from Greek side Filathlitikos. His performances saw him named in the NBA D-League All-Defensive third team at the end of 2013-14, earning him a pick in the 2014 NBA draft from the New York Knicks.
Thanasis was then moved to the Westchester Knicks, before plying his trade back in Europe for MoraBanc Andorra in the Liga ACB. In 2017, Thanasis returned home on a two-year contract with Panathinaikos, one of the biggest teams in the EuroLeague. July 2019 saw Thanasis formally reunite with Giannis and the pair have been inseparable ever since, with Thanasis watching Giannis become two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. They aren’t the first brothers to play together for the Bucks, with Robin and Brook Lopez also part of the Milwaukee roster for 2023-24.
Thanasis and Giannis will be some of Greece’s star attractions at the FIBA World Cup
Both Antetokounmpos are set to feature in Greece’s FIBA World Cup roster. The pair were listed on the preliminary roster and, barring any last-minute injuries, they’ll certainly be involved at this year’s tournament which takes place across Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia later this month.
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