Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the face of the NBA's new world order, has overcome obstacles to become a symbol of hope for people all over the world. Fader unearths new information about his childhood, including sleeping side by side with his brothers, selling trinkets on the street, and experiencing racism. Despite his illegal immigrant status, he transformed his body and game into MVP material. Giannis reveals a more nuanced story of loneliness, isolation, grappling with his Black and Greek identities, self-doubt, and responsibility as a role model for his younger brothers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2022
Publisher: Hachette Books

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the face of the NBA's new world order, has overcome incredible obstacles to become a symbol of hope for people all over the world. His backstory, however, remains largely untold. In his new book, Fader delves into the childhood that shaped The Greek Freak, from sleeping side by side with his brothers to selling trinkets on the street with his family to the racism he experienced.

Antetokounmpo grew up in an era when Golden Dawn, Greece's far-right, anti-immigrant party, patrolled his neighborhood, and his status as an illegal immigrant largely prevented him from playing for the country's top clubs. Despite these challenges, Antetokounmpo's NBA rise was improbable. Fader tells a deeply human story of how an unknown, skinny, Black Greek teen, who played in the country's lowest pro division and was seen as a draft gamble, transformed his body and his game into MVP material.

Antetokounmpo's story has been framed as a feel-good narrative in which everyone has embraced him. He has grown up, signed a five-year supermax contract extension worth $228 million, and led the underdog Bucks to the NBA Championship in 2021. However, Giannis reveals a more nuanced story. He talks about how lonely and isolated he felt, adjusting to America and the NBA early in his career, the complexity of grappling with his Black and Greek identities, his drive to be the best, and his responsibility to be a nurturing role model for his younger brothers.

Fader illustrates a more vulnerable star than most people know. He portrays a person who has evolved triumphantly into all of his roles: father, brother, son, teammate, and global icon. Giannis is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination, and his story continues to inspire people around the world.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 138 x 208 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780306924118