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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm Sean Rameswaram. Today, we're talking about Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA superstar who went from hawking watches and DVDs on the streets of Greece to winning an NBA championship for the Milwaukee Bucks.
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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Joining me is Mirin Fader, a writer at The Ringer and the author of a book about Giannis' life. Mirin, thanks for being here.
--:-- Mirin Fader: Thanks for having me, Sean.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, let's start at the beginning. Giannis was born in Greece to Nigerian parents who had moved there from Lagos. Can you tell us a little bit about his childhood?
--:-- Mirin Fader: Yeah, sure. Giannis' parents, Charles and Veronica, they were both from Nigeria, and they moved to Greece in the 80s because of economic hardship. They settled in a working-class neighborhood in Athens called Sepolia, where Giannis and his brothers grew up.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what was life like for Giannis and his family in Sepolia?
--:-- Mirin Fader: It was tough. They struggled to make ends meet, and Giannis' parents were undocumented, which meant they didn't have access to many of the same opportunities as other Greek citizens. They had to rely on street vending to make a living, selling trinkets and other items to tourists.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That must have been really difficult for Giannis and his family. Did he ever have any interest in basketball growing up?
--:-- Mirin Fader: Actually, no. Giannis was a soccer player, and he didn't even know about basketball until he was 13 years old. But when he did start playing, he was immediately drawn to it.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And how did he get discovered by coaches and scouts?
--:-- Mirin Fader: Well, there was this one guy, Spiros Bellinatis, who saw Giannis playing on a playground and thought he was special. He started coaching Giannis and his brothers, and eventually, he helped Giannis get a spot on a team in Greece.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's amazing. And then, of course, Giannis was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. What was his experience like in the NBA at first?
--:-- Mirin Fader: It was tough. Giannis was still learning the language, and he had to adjust to a whole new culture. He was also dealing with the stress of being an undocumented immigrant, and he had to navigate the complexities of the US immigration system.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That must have been really overwhelming for him. Did he ever feel like he didn't belong in the NBA?
--:-- Mirin Fader: Yeah, definitely. Giannis has talked about feeling like an outsider in the league, and he's struggled with anxiety and depression at times.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: But despite all those challenges, Giannis persevered and eventually became one of the best players in the league. Can you tell us a little bit about his journey to becoming an NBA superstar?
--:-- Mirin Fader: Yeah, sure. Giannis worked incredibly hard to develop his skills, and he became known for his athleticism and his ability to dominate games on both ends of the court. He also became a leader on the team, and he helped the Bucks win an NBA championship in 2021.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's incredible. And what does Giannis' story mean for the broader conversation about immigration and identity in the US?
--:-- Mirin Fader: I think Giannis' story is really complex, and it challenges a lot of our assumptions about what it means to be an immigrant or to be a part of a particular community. He's a symbol of hope for many people, but he's also a reminder that the journey to success is never easy, and that there are always challenges to overcome.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Mirin Fader, thanks for sharing Giannis' story with us today.
--:-- Mirin Fader: Thanks for having me, Sean.
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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's it for today's episode of Today Explained. If you want to learn more about Giannis' story, check out Mirin Fader's book, "The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP". And if you want to support Today Explained, you can make a financial contribution to Vox at bit.ly/givepodcasts.
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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time.
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