Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA MVP from Nigeria & Greece, is an Orthodox Christian

"Giannis Antetokounmpo, picked by NBA team Milwaukee Bucks, received by PM Samaras" (2013)

 

amna.gr

Orthodox Christianity 7/5/2013 

 

Prime Minister of Greece Antonis Samaras, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family with the holy icon of Theotokos "Axion esti". Photo from here.

Prime Minister [of Greece] Antonis Samaras received international basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family at Maximos Mansion, government headquarters, on Tuesday in the presence of Culture Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos and Minister of Sports Yiannis Andrianos. Addressing the young basketball player, selected a few days ago by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 15 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the prime minister thanked him for honoring Greece and underlined that he has become a role model for many, noting that all Greeks have witnessed how much he struggled since he was a child to help his siblings. 

The prime minister wished him success saying characteristically, “I wish you to make America go crazy over your slam dunks”. 

He thanked him for a cap the young basketball player gave him as a present and told him that the Greek people will be watching his career abroad. He thanked him for holding the Greek flag with his brother when the draft results were announced and presented him with the “Axion Esti” icon [our note: About the Icon and Hymn of Theotokos "Axion Estin" ].

Speaking to reporters afterward, Antetokounmpo said that the prime minister was “friendly” and a “basketball fan”. 

“He knew about basketball. He is a very cool guy,” he said, adding that after the prime minister thanked him in a very emotional moment, he wanted to know about the school he attended and where he grew up before wishing him health and a bright future. 

“He will come to America to watch me play,” Antetokounmpo said, and referring to his future in basketball he said that he has set many goals. He displayed the icon the prime minister had given him as a gift and said that his present to him was a cap with his signature. He also said that he had spoken with the prime minister's son, who is “also a basketball fan”. 

 

Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo become godfathers

 

Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo become for the first time godfathers according to the Greek-Orthodox tradition [our note: no "Greek-Orthodox" but simply Orthodox].

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

The two elder Antetokounmpo brothers, Giannis and Thanasis, become godfathers of the young Nikolaos, the son of their close friend and Giannis’ agent Giorgos Panou.

According to the Greek-Orthodox religion, godfather is the person who sponsors a child’s baptism and ”receives in his arms” the newly baptized infant. After the ceremony, the child becomes the godchild. 

It’s an experience that many Greeks have and the two brothers got it today for the first time.