Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Claims New Medal is 'Biggest Success of My Life'

Apr 29, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) defends during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Nine-time All-NBA Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has made a bold claim about his latest medal.

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While playing alongside older brother and fellow Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo (plus young brother Kostas Antetokounmpo, a center for Olympiacos) for their native Greece against one-time All-Star Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen's Finland in a bronze medal EuroBasket game on Sunday, Giannis Antetokounmpo's superlative performance helped secure a victory for their home country.

"I don't like being famous, I just like basketball."

Giannis with a GOAT post-game speech. 🥹❤️#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/cks33sArN4

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 14, 2025

"I've experienced everything in my life," Antetokounmpo said. "I never speak. I'm not fake. I don't like being famous. I love basketball. And that medal is the biggest success of my life. Nothing beats the feeling when you represent your country. This result is a relief for me."

The bronze represents Greece's first medal in international competition in over a decade.

Antetokounmpo, who after all has won an NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021, explained why this victory stood out for him over his Milwaukee achievement.

“This is not better than the championship I won with the Bucks. Winning a championship for an NBA club is a huge accomplishment and Milwaukee is a great city. But it is 500 or 600 thousand people,” Antetokounmpo explained.

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“But when you are able to make 12 million Greeks happy, and you are able to inspire the next generation – like (the 2005 EuroBasket winners) inspired us from the previous generation in 1987 that inspired them," Antetokounmpo added. "This is the biggest thing ever.”

It was also a special moment for all three Greek team Antetokounmpo brothers, who got to celebrate their big moment as teammates. Oldest brother Francis is a semi-pro soccer player, while 24-year-old Alex, after logging some time with G League squads Raptors 905 and the Wisconsin Herd, continued his pro hoops career abroad, where he now plays for Greek club Aris.

🩵🙏🏾🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/Wm69IrtBM2

— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) September 14, 2025

In his seven EuroBasket games this year, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27.3 points on 70.2 percent shooting from the floor and 65.6 percent from the free throw line, 10.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocked shots.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo, returning from an ACL tear, averaged a scant 2.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 10:33 per game.

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