Kostas Antetokounmpo

Kostas Antetokounmpo's Biography

Konstantinos Ndubuisi “Kostas” Antetokounmpo, a remarkable Greek basketball player, was born on November 20, 1997, in Sepolia, Athens, Greece, to Charles and Veronica, Nigerian immigrants. Kostas’ father, Charles, a Yoruba ethnic group member, was a footballer, and his mother, Veronica, an Igbo, was a high jumper. However, Kostas lost his father at the age of 54 in 2017.

Konstantinos, better known as Kostas, is the youngest brother of Giannis and Thanasis and the older brother of Alex, all professional basketball players. His oldest sibling, Francis, is a professional association football player.

Kostas began his basketball journey playing with the youth teams of Filathlitikos in Athens. But life propelled him towards different horizons when Giannis, his older brother, was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2013 NBA draft. Following this, Kostas, alongside his parents and youngest brother Alexis relocated to Milwaukee, where he attended the Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.

During his junior and senior years, he represented his school in basketball and led his team to a state championship in his senior year. After high school, he pursued college basketball at the University of Dayton. However, he was redshirted in the 2016-17 season due to a “partial qualifier” status resulting from his first two years of high school education in Greece.

In his debut season (2017-18), he had an average of 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. This performance led him to declare for the 2018 NBA draft on March 22, 2018.

After being selected as the last pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 NBA draft, Kostas was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in what was a milestone in his budding career. He signed a two-way contract with the Mavericks, dividing his time between their NBA G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, and the Mavericks. These experiences allowed him to establish himself as a serious player, with his G-League performances, averaging 12.3 points and seven rebounds per game, earning him the nickname “Mr. Fantastic.”

Putting all speculations to rest, Kostas made his NBA debut on March 20, 2019, albeit in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. In what came as a setback to his then burgeoning career, Kostas was waived by the Mavericks on July 19, 2019. However, he was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Lakers on July 22, 2019, thereby beginning a new chapter in his career. During his stint with the Lakers, Kostas became the first Greek-born player to win an NBA championship after the Lakers’ triumph over the Miami Heat.

After his time with the Lakers, Kostas signed with ASVEL Villeurbanne of the French LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague, averaged decent numbers and earned valuable experience. A brief stint with the Chicago Bulls ensued, where he signed a two-way contract but was subsequently waived without appearing in a game at the NBA level. He subsequently moved to Turkey, signing with Fenerbahçe Beko of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL), but didn’t have a notable stint.

On June 22, 2023, Kostas finally returned to his homeland, signing a two-year contract with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. Interestingly, his older brother Thanasis had previously played for Panathinaikos for two seasons.

Kostas also represented Greece at the national level. He played for the junior Greek Under-20 team, earning a bronze medal at the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. He also represented the senior men’s Greek national team at the 2020 Victoria FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the EuroBasket 2022.

In addition to his successful basketball career, Kostas diversified his interests into football as well. Along with hockey player Filip Forsberg and his three brothers Giannis, Thanasis, and Alex, he joined the ownership group of the Nashville SC soccer team in the MLS.

Throughout his life and career, Kostas proved himself to be a dynamic and dedicated athlete. From his early days in Athens’ neighborhoods to the hottest competitions in the NBA, he remained true to his love for the sport, pushing boundaries, and making his nation proud.