Bucks Zone

Giannis says he considered retiring from basketball in 2020 - "I was ready to walk away from the game"

Giannis shares his struggles with mental health from 2020.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

Milwaukee Bucks

On the surface, the life of an NBA superstar may seem glamorous, but it can be taxing both mentally and physically. From rigorous practices to endorsement obligations and their personal life, it all can be overwhelming. After ten seasons in the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks ace Giannis Antetokounmpo knows this all too well.

In April 2020, while the league was shut down due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Giannis revealed that he had considered retiring from basketball.

"In 2020, I was ready to walk away from the game," shared Giannis.

Mental health struggles

The year 2020 was a unique moment in NBA history. With the pandemic forcing the league to shut down for several months before eventually re-opening in a bubble setup, Giannis said he suddenly felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. Whether it was the stress from the death of his father Charles,in 2017 or the pressure of being proclaimed the best player in the world, Giannis said he felt overwhelmed.

"Yeah, it's good to hear that, but that's a lot of pressure. Going through that, in order for you to be the best, you have to play like the best. You have to practice like the best. You got to carry yourself like the best. Which is not easy," said Giannis. "It's hard. It's not easy."

All these factors led him to consider an unexpected retirement.

"If something doesn't make me happy, I don't do it. I don't want to do it. I'm just going to stay home, stay with my kids, stay with my family and try to be happy. I don't care. And this was right when I signed the largest contract in NBA history," Giannis continued.

Seriously considered walking away

If anyone thought that it was just a whim by Giannis, the Greek Freak said he brought this up with the team's management.

"I had that conversation – yes – with the front office. And, you know, very normally, everybody is looking at me like I was crazy. 'You just signed the largest contract in NBA history and you want to walk away from the game and all that money?' Mannnnn, you can take that money and shove it into your…," Giannis added.

Fortunately, he got the help he needed to deal with his mental health struggles. He has since become an advocate for mental health awareness and even launched the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation, which recently partnered with Antidote Health to help others struggling with their own mental health issues.

Published
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.