Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Father Still Serves as Inspiration After His Tragic Death
He was just 54 years old. He never got a chance to see his son Giannis Antetokounmpo become the Most Valuable Player in the NBA after a stellar season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Charles Antetokounmpo died unexpectedly in September of 2017 of a heart attack while in Milwaukee. While he wasn’t here physically when Giannis was named the league’s MVP after the 2018-19 season, Charles Antetokounmpo is still serving as an inspiration to his family.
The Greek Freak’s MVP season
Giannis Antetokounmpo was like a bubble ready to burst. His potential was through the roof and that bubble exploded when he reached that potential during the 2018-19 NBA season. Antetokounmpo, known as the Greek Freak, carried the Milwaukee Bucks to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Although the Bucks fell to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals, Antetokounmpo earned the respect of his peers and fans by capturing the MVP award.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was like a bubble ready to burst. His potential was through the roof and that bubble exploded when he reached that potential during the 2018-19 NBA season. Antetokounmpo, known as the Greek Freak, carried the Milwaukee Bucks to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Although the Bucks fell to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals, Antetokounmpo earned the respect of his peers and fans by capturing the MVP award.
The Greek Freak played in 72 regular-season games and had himself quite a season. Antetokounmpo averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. He shot nearly 58 percent (.578) from the floor and also contributed 5.9 assists per contest. Antetokounmpo had been on the cusp of breaking out after his 2017-18 campaign saw him put up similar numbers. The 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo put up 26.7 points and 10 rebounds per game. Before this season was put on hiatus, he was the favorite to repeat as the league’s MVP. Through 57 games, Antetokounmpo was averaging 29.6 points and 13.7 rebounds per game.
The unexpected death of Charles Antetokounmpo
The date was Sept. 29, 2017, when Charles Antetokounmpo, the father of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, died unexpectedly. He died of a heart attack while in Milwaukee. He was just 54 years old. The death came as a shock to Giannis and his family.
Less than one month after his father died, Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 44 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Antetokounmpo scored 17 points in the fourth quarter of that game to help give the Bucks the 113-110 win. After the game, he immediately thought of his father. “This is for daddy,” he said in an ESPN article. “We got a win tonight.”
Charles Antetokounmpo remains on his son’s mind. One year after the death, the Greek Freak posted a touching tribute to his father in an Instagram post. “It’s been a year daddy, so many things have happened since the day you left for a better place and I know you been watching down on us with a smile just like the one in the picture. I think about you every single day,” he wrote.
Charles Antetokounmpo still serves as an inspiration to his sons
Giannis Antetokounmpo has four brothers, three who play basketball. According to an ESPN article, wins and losses, although they are important, aren’t the most important thing in their lives. Their goal is to live up to their father’s legacy. “It’s the biggest thing that we’ve got to worry about,” said Alex, the youngest of the basketball-playing brothers. “If we have one goal to fulfill in life, it’s that.”
Recently, Giannis and his girlfriend had a son. The boy was named after Charles – Liam Charles Antetokounmpo. Charles Antetokounmpo is the one who is responsible for giving all four of the Antetokounmpo brothers their strong work ethic on and off the basketball court.
“He put in you that ‘don’t-give-a-f—‘ mentality,” Giannis said to ESPN. “I feel like the toughness, I’ve always had it, but that ‘don’t-give-a-f—‘ mentality whether I win, lose, play good or play bad, I just go out there and chase it. Like, what’s the worst that can happen?”
