Basketball is temporary. Family is forever.
After forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points — including 20 in the third quarter — to lead the Bucks to its first championship in 50 years, the 2021 NBA Finals MVP had a special moment with his brother, Thanasis.
The brothers are both on the Bucks, but Thanasis did not play in Games 5 and 6 after being placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
“I am a f—king champion,” Giannis said. “Nobody can say s—t to me!”
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no,” Thanasis responded. “You are not. No you are not. I am not opening the door.”
Thanasis, 29, then pumped his fist as his little brother celebrated, watching from afar with a tear in his eye.
The Greek Freak proved the haters wrong with a dominant championship performance, becoming the first player in NBA Finals history to average 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists on 60% shooting. Most notably, his 50 points, 14 rebounds and 17-of-19 night from the line on Tuesday at Fiserv Forum helped the Bucks avoid a trip back to Arizona for Game 7. Giannis is the seventh player with a 50-point outing in the Finals.
On Instagram Live with over 250,000 fans watching following the Bucks’ 105-98 Game 6 victory, they rapped “For the Night” by Pop Smoke featuring fellow Lil Baby and DaBaby, joked over the 26-year-old Giannis smoking a cigar and talked about meeting up at Thanasis’ hotel.
“I love you, I am coming to the hotel,” Giannis said. “I am coming. I don’t care. I am coming.”
The Antetokounmpos’ younger brother, Kostas, won the NBA Finals with the Lakers last season. The trio became the first three brothers to all win NBA titles.