Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian

[Jmonty580]

I agree that its pretty simple. His nationality is Greek and his ethnicity is Nigerian. I cant tell Giannis how to feel or the greek people how to feel or what to claim. I get both being proud of him honsetly. However, I can see why people would want to hear more about him being Nigerian than Greek. Have any of you been to Nigeria? What hope do alot of them have? What do the people get to see on TV about their country that they can be proud of? Something as small as being able to claim Giannis would do wonders for the children of Nigeria's pride and i think alot of kids would strive to do what Giannis has done. Maybe they still will regardless (being that we all know that he is Nigerian). But yea for them to have someone that they can claim and then to be denied or ignore or diminished?

[jamalkandur]

A lengthily excerpt from the NYT article about him and the struggles of immigrants in Greece:



"...even the children of African immigrants who were born here found it difficult to secure legal residency, let alone citizenship. Their stateless status denied them national health care, Civil Service jobs and access to sports leagues. Antetokounmpo only gained Greek citizenship six years ago — just as he was about to go to New York for the N.B.A. draft. He was given Greek citizenship in order to prevent him from traveling to New York as a Nigerian,” said Nikos Odubitan, the founder of Generation 2.0, an advocacy group that helps second-generation immigrants gain legal status in Greece. Greeks now embrace Antetokounmpo, “They put him on a pedestal,” said Jackie Abhulimen, 27, the Greek-born daughter of African-born parents. “But the same person cheering Giannis could swear at me on the road. He was just a guy you would see in the street, hungry and looking for food,” Odoemelam said of Antetokounmpo..."

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/sports/giannis-antetokounmpo-greece.html

[thebigbird]

Anyone can look at Giannis and see that he is not Greek. Only difference between Giannis and Black Americans is he knows where he comes from.

Ok so now we're at the point where every black person living in Greece is not considered Greek?

It's all racial nationality and that's it? That's messed up.

You're either a part of the country where you live or you're not. If you're born in America for instance, you're American. That's what the law says and if you don't want to be American, you can leave and go some other place. But the idea that race supersedes everything else is honestly racist.

It's not racist, it's just two separate things. You've got someone's race/ethnicity, and you've got their nationality. They can be different. Ethnically, Giannis is not Greek. But, since he was born in Greece and raised there, you can say his nationality is Greek.

[spikeslovechild]

Anyone can look at Giannis and see that he is not Greek. Only difference between Giannis and Black Americans is he knows where he comes from.

Ok so now we're at the point where every black person living in Greece is not considered Greek?

It's all racial nationality and that's it? That's messed up.

You're either a part of the country where you live or you're not. If you're born in America for instance, you're American. That's what the law says and if you don't want to be American, you can leave and go some other place. But the idea that race supersedes everything else is honestly racist.

It's not racist, it's just two separate things. You've got someone's race/ethnicity, and you've got their nationality. They can be different. Ethnically, Giannis is not Greek. But, since he was born in Greece and raised there, you can say his nationality is Greek.

Due to Giannis not being born in Greece he can consider himself whatever he wants. To me it would be disrespectful not to recognize the country that gave your family an opportunity and welcomed you with open arms but to each their own.

Regardless that is a decision for Giannis not Masai

Edit: Learned via google was born in Athens which makes him Greek whether he likes it or not. He may have Nigerian roots but as the other poster said he is a 1st generation greek at least from a factual perspective.

[blueNorange]

His nationality is Greek, his family is from Nigeria. It's the equivalent of a random guy saying he's American but Grandparents came from Portugal or something.

Not the same. His parents weren't even citizens. They arrived as immigrants.

My guy is Nigerian through and through.

that makes him a first generation greek.

[trueballer7]

A lengthily excerpt from the NYT article about him and the struggles of immigrants in Greece:



"...even the children of African immigrants who were born here found it difficult to secure legal residency, let alone citizenship. Their stateless status denied them national health care, Civil Service jobs and access to sports leagues. Antetokounmpo only gained Greek citizenship six years ago — just as he was about to go to New York for the N.B.A. draft. He was given Greek citizenship in order to prevent him from traveling to New York as a Nigerian,” said Nikos Odubitan, the founder of Generation 2.0, an advocacy group that helps second-generation immigrants gain legal status in Greece. Greeks now embrace Antetokounmpo, “They put him on a pedestal,” said Jackie Abhulimen, 27, the Greek-born daughter of African-born parents. “But the same person cheering Giannis could swear at me on the road. He was just a guy you would see in the street, hungry and looking for food,” Odoemelam said of Antetokounmpo..."

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/sports/giannis-antetokounmpo-greece.html

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. There must have never been a person in Greece that was denied national health care, even if it was of Martian origin. And in my entire life in Greece, I have never heard of anyone swearing at random black people in the street. Its like reading the communist partys newspaper.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Ujiri is racist himself.

You should expand on that.

What he said would certainly be labelled racist if some white dude did it.

He's not some white dude though, he's a Nigerian person proud of another Nigerian person's accomplishment. Someone who he helped get citizenship, because that same country didn't see him as Greek until it would benefit them (Greek National team).

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Aaaaand the Masai quote just made Greek media News.

Congratulations Mr Ujiri.In your attempt to promote your African Basketball program you just enabled the 5% of Far Right Greeks-sorry excuses of-human beings to spew their BS of racism and hate speech.

That's why you don't mix sports with politics you genius man.Well Done.I'm sure Giannis is extremely happy.

They would spew their hate speech with our without Masai's comments, or did you forget about Thanasis being called a monkey on TV in Greece? Was that Masai's fault too?

https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/11/16/giannis-antetokounmpo-speaks-out-over-racist-remark-made-about-brother-thanasis/

[agkagk]

I think Giannis is the one who gets to decide if he identifies as Greek or not. Not Masai.

Picture the typical coming of age tale of an Italian immigrant family growing up in the Bronx.

Only with a Nigerian family in greece.

He obviously grew up in a Nigerian household, not a Greek one.


It’s not complicated.

I’m from Toronto; we have half a million Italians. A million Indians, heck some how we even have like 50000 Costa Ricans.

All torontonians.

[Hero]

He is Nigerian but has Greek citizenship. Isn't it that simple?

[thebigbird]

Ok so now we're at the point where every black person living in Greece is not considered Greek?

It's all racial nationality and that's it? That's messed up.

You're either a part of the country where you live or you're not. If you're born in America for instance, you're American. That's what the law says and if you don't want to be American, you can leave and go some other place. But the idea that race supersedes everything else is honestly racist.

It's not racist, it's just two separate things. You've got someone's race/ethnicity, and you've got their nationality. They can be different. Ethnically, Giannis is not Greek. But, since he was born in Greece and raised there, you can say his nationality is Greek.

Due to Giannis not being born in Greece he can consider himself whatever he wants. To me it would be disrespectful not to recognize the country that gave your family an opportunity and welcomed you with open arms but to each their own.

Regardless that is a decision for Giannis not Masai

Edit: Learned via google was born in Athens which makes him Greek whether he likes it or not. He may have Nigerian roots but as the other poster said he is a 1st generation greek at least from a factual perspective.

He's Greek from a nationality perspective, yeah. But from what I understand they didn't really welcome them with open arms until he became a great basketball player.

[spikeslovechild]

You should expand on that.

What he said would certainly be labelled racist if some white dude did it.

He's not some white dude though, he's a Nigerian person proud of another Nigerian person's accomplishment. Someone who he helped get citizenship, because that same country didn't see him as Greek until it would benefit them (Greek National team).

I don't know it made me cringe. He can be proud of his heritage without speaking for him and trying to wipe out his greek nationality without the appearance of his consent. To me it reminded me some of the people who call people of spanish decent Mexican instead of American.

[mixerball]

incredibly arrogant in irresponsible of ujiri to say that like he is giannis.

[Clementine64]

[gfycat]<div style='position:relative; padding-bottom:calc(47.50% + 44px)'><iframe src='https://gfycat.com/ifr/BarrenEnragedCutworm' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%' style='position:absolute;top:0;left:0;' allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p> <a href="https://gfycat.com/barrenenragedcutworm">via Gfycat</a></p>[/gfycat]

Masia to Giannis "My Nigerian"

[mickie]

stop the madness.. Giannis is a Nigerian born Greek!

[NoDopeOnSundays]

What he said would certainly be labelled racist if some white dude did it.

He's not some white dude though, he's a Nigerian person proud of another Nigerian person's accomplishment. Someone who he helped get citizenship, because that same country didn't see him as Greek until it would benefit them (Greek National team).

I don't know it made me cringe. He can be proud of his heritage without speaking for him and trying to wipe out his greek nationality without the appearance of his consent. To me it reminded me some of the people who call people of spanish decent Mexican instead of American.

With how close Masai is with Giannis' family I highly doubt he was offended, especially since Giannis has said he's African & Nigerian before.

If one of the elders from my grandparents country said I was from there instead of American I wouldn't be made in the least bit. Look at the new Heavyweight champion in Boxing, he's from California but is called the first Mexican heavyweight champ and proudly says it as well.

[MrDollarBills]

Aaaaand the Masai quote just made Greek media News.

Congratulations Mr Ujiri.In your attempt to promote your African Basketball program you just enabled the 5% of Far Right Greeks-sorry excuses of-human beings to spew their BS of racism and hate speech.

That's why you don't mix sports with politics you genius man.Well Done.I'm sure Giannis is extremely happy.

They would spew their hate speech with our without Masai's comments, or did you forget about Thanasis being called a monkey on TV in Greece? Was that Masai's fault too?

https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/11/16/giannis-antetokounmpo-speaks-out-over-racist-remark-made-about-brother-thanasis/

Gotta love when people blame the victims for far right lunatics being racist, as if these scumbags need an excuse for their unfathomable behavior. That is peak centrism at it's best

[Wooderson]

why would he say that?

He's Greek with Nigerian routes. So maybe he's both, but why would you as another person claim what somebody is or isn't? That's dumb masai. Nationalities are overblown bull******** anyway.

He said that because Masai is Nigerian, and Masai also helped Giannis' family get Greek citizenship, the Adetokunbo's weren't Greek until their sons showed athletic prowess.


If I were a Bucks fan I'd be terrified about the relationship Masai has with Giannis' family, the country roots and how he helped them.

Is there a source for this other than this one cut from the Toronto Star article? Genuinely curious because the article itself doesn't even reference the Greek citizenship thing. Is there other info/source for this or are people just assuming based on the line below?

Ujiri helped the family emigrate from Nigeria to Greece to start the 23-year-old on his path to NBA greatness and the “what-if” possibility of Ujiri getting Antetokounmpo is fun to imagine.

[skones]

why would he say that?

He's Greek with Nigerian routes. So maybe he's both, but why would you as another person claim what somebody is or isn't? That's dumb masai. Nationalities are overblown bull******** anyway.

He said that because Masai is Nigerian, and Masai also helped Giannis' family get Greek citizenship, the Adetokunbo's weren't Greek until their sons showed athletic prowess.


If I were a Bucks fan I'd be terrified about the relationship Masai has with Giannis' family, the country roots and how he helped them.

Is there a source for this other than this one cut from the Toronto Star article? Genuinely curious because the article itself doesn't even reference the Greek citizenship thing. Is there other info/source for this or are people just assuming based on the line below?

Ujiri helped the family emigrate from Nigeria to Greece to start the 23-year-old on his path to NBA greatness and the “what-if” possibility of Ujiri getting Antetokounmpo is fun to imagine.

The article referenced here is a total joke. Giannis was born in Athens, he didn't emigrate anywhere. But wow, Masai Ujiri was doing everything he could to draft Giannis in 2015! (He was drafted in 2013)

Full quote by Doug Smith here (https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2018/01/01/greek-star-antetokoumpos-reach-extends-to-toronto.html:

Raptors president Masai Ujiri tried desperately to trade into the 2015 draft so he could take the teenager. His connection to the Antetokounmpo family is long-standing. Ujiri helped the family emigrate from Nigeria to Greece to start the 23-year-old on his path to NBA greatness and the “what-if” possibility of Ujiri getting Antetokounmpo is fun to imagine.

Just false lazy false reporting.

[crkone]

why would he say that?

He's Greek with Nigerian routes. So maybe he's both, but why would you as another person claim what somebody is or isn't? That's dumb masai. Nationalities are overblown bull******** anyway.

He said that because Masai is Nigerian, and Masai also helped Giannis' family get Greek citizenship, the Adetokunbo's weren't Greek until their sons showed athletic prowess.


If I were a Bucks fan I'd be terrified about the relationship Masai has with Giannis' family, the country roots and how he helped them.

Is there a source for this other than this one cut from the Toronto Star article? Genuinely curious because the article itself doesn't even reference the Greek citizenship thing. Is there other info/source for this or are people just assuming based on the line below?

Ujiri helped the family emigrate from Nigeria to Greece to start the 23-year-old on his path to NBA greatness and the “what-if” possibility of Ujiri getting Antetokounmpo is fun to imagine.

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