Few families in basketball history have captured global attention like the Antetokounmpos. While Giannis Antetokounmpo became one of the NBA’s biggest superstars with the Milwaukee Bucks, his success story is deeply connected to his brothers. Together, the Antetokounmpo siblings transformed their family name into a symbol of perseverance, loyalty, and athletic excellence.
Born to Nigerian immigrant parents in Greece, the brothers grew up facing poverty, uncertainty, and discrimination. Long before NBA championships and endorsement deals, the family sold items on the streets of Athens to survive. Basketball eventually changed their lives, but their rise was never just about one player. Each brother followed a unique path through sports, with several reaching the NBA and others pursuing professional careers internationally.
Today, the Antetokounmpo brothers are recognized not only for basketball achievements but also for their unusually close family bond. Here is everything to know about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brothers, including their careers, backgrounds, and how the family became one of sports’ most remarkable success stories.
How Many Brothers Does Giannis Antetokounmpo Have?
Giannis Antetokounmpo has four brothers: Francis, Thanasis, Kostas, and Alex Antetokounmpo. All five brothers were raised in an intensely competitive and supportive household shaped by sports and hardship.
The family’s parents, Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo, emigrated from Nigeria to Greece in search of better opportunities. Charles was a former soccer player, while Veronica competed as a high jumper. Athletic talent clearly ran through the family from the beginning.
Although Giannis became the most famous sibling, basketball was never treated as an individual journey inside the family. The brothers trained together constantly during childhood and pushed one another to improve. Their bond remained strong even after fame and professional success arrived.
Francis Antetokounmpo is the oldest sibling in the family. Unlike most of his younger brothers, Francis spent much of his early life in Nigeria with relatives while his parents established themselves in Greece.
Instead of basketball, Francis followed a path closer to his father’s athletic background and pursued soccer professionally. Over the years, he played football in Greece and Nigeria while also exploring music and entertainment projects.
Because he did not rise through the NBA system like his brothers, Francis is less publicly known among basketball fans. However, members of the Antetokounmpo family frequently mention him as an important figure in their lives and upbringing.
His story also highlights how different the brothers’ experiences were despite belonging to the same family. While Giannis and his younger brothers grew up primarily in Athens, Francis spent much of his childhood separated from them before eventually reconnecting more closely later in life.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo Helped Giannis Reach the NBA
Thanasis Antetokounmpo is Giannis’ older brother and arguably the sibling most closely connected to his NBA journey.
Born in Athens in 1992, Thanasis developed into a high-energy basketball player known for defense, athleticism, and emotional leadership. Before reaching the NBA, he and Giannis both played for the Greek club Filathlitikos, where scouts first noticed the brothers’ extraordinary physical potential.
Thanasis was selected by the New York Knicks in the 2014 NBA Draft before later playing internationally in Spain and Greece. In 2019, he joined the Milwaukee Bucks, creating one of the NBA’s most emotional family reunions as he became Giannis’ teammate.
The brothers won an NBA championship together in 2021 when Milwaukee defeated the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. That title became one of the defining moments for the Antetokounmpo family because it represented years of sacrifice and shared struggle finally paying off.
Giannis has repeatedly credited Thanasis for shaping his mindset and helping him stay focused during difficult years growing up in Greece. Their relationship is widely viewed as one of the NBA’s closest sibling bonds.
Giannis Became the Family’s Global Superstar
Giannis Antetokounmpo eventually emerged as the family’s most successful athlete and one of basketball’s defining superstars.
After being selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2013 NBA Draft, Giannis transformed from a raw teenage prospect into a two-time NBA MVP, NBA champion, Finals MVP, and perennial All-Star. His combination of size, athleticism, ball-handling, and relentless intensity earned him the nickname “The Greek Freak.”
But Giannis’ rise is inseparable from his family story. During childhood, the Antetokounmpos often struggled financially and sold products on the streets of Athens to help support the household. Because their parents were undocumented immigrants for years, the brothers also faced uncertainty surrounding citizenship and legal status.
Those experiences heavily shaped Giannis’ public image. Even after becoming one of the NBA’s richest and most famous players, he consistently emphasizes humility, family loyalty, and gratitude in interviews.
His success also helped open opportunities for his younger brothers to pursue basketball careers internationally.
Kostas Antetokounmpo Also Won an NBA Championship
Kostas Antetokounmpo became another major basketball success story within the family. Born in 1997, Kostas moved to the United States during his teenage years and later played college basketball at the University of Dayton. He entered the NBA after being selected in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks.
Kostas later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and won an NBA championship in 2020, giving the Antetokounmpo family back-to-back championship seasons after Giannis and Thanasis won with Milwaukee the following year.
Outside the NBA, Kostas also built a strong international basketball résumé by competing in Europe. His size, defensive ability, and athleticism made him valuable in multiple leagues, including the EuroLeague basketball.
Like the rest of the family, Kostas remained closely connected to his brothers despite playing in different countries and leagues throughout his career.
Alex Antetokounmpo is the youngest Antetokounmpo brother and another player pursuing a professional basketball career.
Born in 2001, Alex spent more of his childhood in the United States compared to his older brothers because the family relocated after Giannis entered the NBA. He attended Dominican High School in Wisconsin and quickly developed into a highly intriguing basketball prospect.
Instead of playing college basketball, Alex chose to begin his professional career overseas in Europe before later joining the NBA G League system. His athleticism and physical tools attracted attention from NBA organizations early in his development.
In 2025, Alex officially joined the Milwaukee Bucks organization on a two-way contract, creating NBA history alongside Giannis and Thanasis. It marked the first time three brothers shared the same NBA roster simultaneously.
Although Alex is still developing compared to his older siblings, many fans remain interested in his long-term potential because of the family’s extraordinary basketball pedigree.
The Antetokounmpo Family’s Journey From Poverty to NBA History
The Antetokounmpo brothers’ story extends far beyond basketball statistics. Their rise from poverty in Greece to worldwide sports fame became one of the NBA’s most inspiring modern stories.
The family struggled financially for years while living in Athens. Because the brothers lacked Greek citizenship during childhood, opportunities were often limited despite their obvious athletic ability.
Basketball eventually became both an escape and a pathway toward stability. The brothers trained relentlessly while helping support the family financially. Their parents emphasized discipline, humility, and loyalty throughout those difficult years.
Even after becoming wealthy and famous, the Antetokounmpos maintained an unusually close family culture. The brothers regularly support one another publicly, train together during offseasons, and appear together at major events.
The Disney film Rise later dramatized the family’s story for global audiences, introducing even more fans to their journey from immigrant hardship to basketball success.