Bucks Zone

Patrick Beverley calls Thanasis Antetokounmpo "the best teammate"

Pat Bev recalls how TA approached him and praised his game during his humble beginnings.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Thanasis Antetokounmpo's name has recently been a sizzling topic of discussion around the social media and basketball communities. Yet again, and for unknown reasons, the Milwaukee Bucks forward has been subjected to public ridicule out of viral memes and hilarious trolling.

As Damian Lillard had already come in to defend the veteran against the online heckling, Patrick Beverley also emerged with his unique story that shows Thanasty as a cool and standout individual.

TA has been a Pat Bev fan since Day 1

In a viral clip of an episode of his Pat Bev Pod, Patrick candidly spoke about Antetokounmpo and even recalled how the Greek forward gladly approached him during his overseas playing days as a member of Olympiacos.

“He’s great, too,” Beverley said of Thanasis. “So you gotta think, I’m playing in Greece, right? I’m playing for arguably the best team in Greece, Olympiacos. I think he’s second division, right? Mind you, this is what he’s telling me like, ‘Pat, man, I remember bro watching you playing for Olympiacos. Like, damn, I want to be just like that.’

“So, I go, Rockets. I’m on a team with the Rockets, I go one day, watch some guys work out. It’s him. ‘Hey Pat, man, I seen you walk into that gym. It just turn me up, made want to do,’" Pat added.

“Mind you, these are stories that I’ve never heard before. I don’t think someone looked up to me and wanted to embrace their game because of the things I’ve done on the court. So I’m getting all this from, and I’m looking at him like, ‘Damn, I don’t even know that,'” Bev explained.

One of the greatest teammates ever

Although Thanasis has become a poster boy amongst the league's bench warmers — which people are continuing to make fun of — Bev has nothing but love for the unwavering positivity and professionalism of the 31-year-old on a daily basis.

“One of the greatest teammates,” Beverley said. “So looking at it from the outside, looking in, you like, ‘Man, what the f***?’ But being up under it, the best teammate. 110% every day. 110% in practice, encouraging up, talking all the time, a huge smile on his face. So yeah, shout out to TA.”

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.