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

[SlowPaced]

He's a Greek person of Nigerian descent. Him having received citizenship so far into his life is an indictment on how the Greek government handles its business. His parents had been living in Greece prior to his birth, he was born in Greece, lived his entire life in Greece and spoke fluent Greek.

Masai Ujiri is Nigerian himself, so he's basically trying to embrace Giannis as one of his kin. Pretty pointless to refuse his status as a Greek person for your own ego-stroking. It's not inaccurate to refer to him as Greek or Greek-Nigerian, but it is inaccurate to refer to him as Nigerian.

Even giannis says the same thing that masai did though. He feels the same way

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That is a misrepresentation of what Giannis said. Giannis never denounced his Greekness, he has done the opposite many times. He said that his roots are Nigerian and that he grew up in a family that had Nigerian cultural values. Both are accurate statements.

"Giannis has Nigerian roots" is an accurate statement. "Giannis is Greek-Nigerian" is an accurate statement. "Giannis isn't Greek he's Nigerian" is an inaccurate statement.

[will]

Jonesin' hard for the 'whi x Pascal x Giannis frontcourt in 2021.

[Johnny Bball]

Ujiri is racist himself.

You should expand on that.

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

What would be? Which part? Because I have zero clue what was racist about any of it, if said by anyone. I'm going to assume you have no idea about Giannis and his own words.

[SlowPaced]

You should expand on that.

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

What would be? Which part? Because I have zero clue what was racist about any of it, if said by anyone. I'm going to assume you have no idea about Giannis and his own words.

It most certainly would be labelled racist if a white guy did it. It's what white nationalist types keep repeating ad nauseam about the children of immigrants. That they can't ever be fully integrated into their society and should either be segregated or kicked out.

Insinuating that Giannis, who was born in Greece, raised in Greece, speaks fluent Greek, represents the Greek National Team and has never denounced his Greekness whatsoever (recognizing his Nigerian roots and cultural background isn't that) is not Greek mirrors that talking point. Unsurprisingly, far-right outlets in Greece have picked up on Ujiri's statements to say "See! That's what we've been saying all along."

[Johnny Bball]

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

What would be? Which part? Because I have zero clue what was racist about any of it, if said by anyone. I'm going to assume you have no idea about Giannis and his own words.

It most certainly would be labelled racist if a white guy did it. It's what white nationalist types keep repeating en masse about people about the children of immigrants. That they can't ever be fully integrated into their society and should either be segregated or kicked out.

Insinuating that Giannis, who was born in Greece, raised in Greece, speaks fluent Greek, represents the Greek National Team and has never denounced his Greekness whatsoever (recognizing his Nigerian roots isn't that) is not Greek mirrors that talking point. Unsurprisingly, far-right outlets in Greece have picked up on Ujiri's statements to say "See! That's what we've been saying all along."

You mean like every time a white American is asked where is your family from or what's your heritage and they don't say American but they say Ireland/Italy/Poland etc.? That's racist? Because it's exactly the same thing. And its because Giannis himself has said he's Nigerian. Not to downplay Greece, but so as to not to completely ignore his heritage. Just like every European answers in the US. You can make this what you want, but it's all bull sht.

[Wargreymon]

Toronto can't even retain their finals MVP stop fantasizing about signing Giannis lmao

Regular season


Post season

[Hero]

Someone like Giannis has the freedom and means to move to almost anywhere in the world.

It would make sense for him to sign with the Raptors and then bring his family to Toronto. It is the most multicultural city in the world and a really good fit from all angles.

[SlowPaced]

What would be? Which part? Because I have zero clue what was racist about any of it, if said by anyone. I'm going to assume you have no idea about Giannis and his own words.

It most certainly would be labelled racist if a white guy did it. It's what white nationalist types keep repeating en masse about people about the children of immigrants. That they can't ever be fully integrated into their society and should either be segregated or kicked out.

Insinuating that Giannis, who was born in Greece, raised in Greece, speaks fluent Greek, represents the Greek National Team and has never denounced his Greekness whatsoever (recognizing his Nigerian roots isn't that) is not Greek mirrors that talking point. Unsurprisingly, far-right outlets in Greece have picked up on Ujiri's statements to say "See! That's what we've been saying all along."

You mean like every time a white American is asked where is your family from or what's your heritage and they don't say American but they say Ireland/Italy/Poland etc.? That's racist? Because it's exactly the same thing. And its because Giannis himself has said he's Nigerian. Not to downplay Greece, but so as to not to completely ignore his heritage. Just like every European answers in the US. You can make this what you want, but it's all bull sht.

United States of America was not formed by its native population. That's the difference. United States of America was formed by immigrants who destroyed the native population. Everyone in the United States besides the few remaining Natives are the children of immigrants. Therefore, there's no American national identity. Not the case with Greece. It's a false equivalency and you'll never truly understand the issue if you don't recognize it.

There's a difference between saying "Giannis is Nigerian", and prefacing that by saying "Giannis is not Greek".

[Johnny Bball]

It most certainly would be labelled racist if a white guy did it. It's what white nationalist types keep repeating en masse about people about the children of immigrants. That they can't ever be fully integrated into their society and should either be segregated or kicked out.

Insinuating that Giannis, who was born in Greece, raised in Greece, speaks fluent Greek, represents the Greek National Team and has never denounced his Greekness whatsoever (recognizing his Nigerian roots isn't that) is not Greek mirrors that talking point. Unsurprisingly, far-right outlets in Greece have picked up on Ujiri's statements to say "See! That's what we've been saying all along."

You mean like every time a white American is asked where is your family from or what's your heritage and they don't say American but they say Ireland/Italy/Poland etc.? That's racist? Because it's exactly the same thing. And its because Giannis himself has said he's Nigerian. Not to downplay Greece, but so as to not to completely ignore his heritage. Just like every European answers in the US. You can make this what you want, but it's all bull sht.

United States of America was not formed by its native population. That's the difference. United States of America was formed by immigrants who destroyed the native population. Everyone in the United States besides the few remaining Natives are the children of immigrants. Therefore, there's no American national identity. Not the case with Greece. It's a false equivalency and you'll never truly understand the issue if you don't recognize it.

There's a difference between saying "Giannis is Nigerian", and prefacing that by saying "Giannis is not Greek".

What nationality is Lennox Lewis without looking? It's not a thing here. Maybe that's the difference in where we are both from and how we both think.


Besides... pretty sure he already took the far right wing criticism you talked about.

https://theundefeated.com/features/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-greek-freak-wants-to-go-back-to-his-nigerian-roots/

[aboveAverage]

Can't you Raptors fans be satisfied with Kawhi and Pascal?

Giannis will sign a supermax and stay in Milwaukee. It's better for him and for the league. The franchise will offer him a great chance to win the title for years to come. We'll have a great rivalry with Kawhi and the Raps for years to come.

[LouisLitt]

People don’t seem to know that North and West Africans once inhabited, civilized and discovered alot of Europe. Greece, Spain, Ireland were all inhabited by Africans for a span of 700 years before the slave trade was remotely relevant.

I think it's common knowledge that Egyptians held a significant amount of power back in the day.

People actually aren’t that aware the Moors came after the Egyptians and introduced the bare necessities like soap, clothes to Europe primarily Spain.

It’s important because some people to this day are puzzled as to why Serge Ibaka has pride for the Spanish National Team despite being from the Congo.

I don't know if it's just me, but I feel a lot of people should also understand that Arabic people ruled heavily through Northern Africa and Southern Europe as well. Could just be me from watching random documentaries though.

Serge has love for Spain because he spent time there playing basketball. Congo is in Central Africa (Beglian Colony, hence why French is the official language) and has little relation to Morocco/Algeria (Maghreb), which would be the Moors that you had mentioned.

[SlowPaced]

You mean like every time a white American is asked where is your family from or what's your heritage and they don't say American but they say Ireland/Italy/Poland etc.? That's racist? Because it's exactly the same thing. And its because Giannis himself has said he's Nigerian. Not to downplay Greece, but so as to not to completely ignore his heritage. Just like every European answers in the US. You can make this what you want, but it's all bull sht.

United States of America was not formed by its native population. That's the difference. United States of America was formed by immigrants who destroyed the native population. Everyone in the United States besides the few remaining Natives are the children of immigrants. Therefore, there's no American national identity. Not the case with Greece. It's a false equivalency and you'll never truly understand the issue if you don't recognize it.

There's a difference between saying "Giannis is Nigerian", and prefacing that by saying "Giannis is not Greek".

What nationality is Lennox Lewis without looking? It's not a thing here. Maybe that's the difference in where we are both from and how we both think.

Where are you from? The US, I assume? If so, it definitely is the difference and the reason why you are not getting why this is such a big deal. The dynamics are completely different in nation states like Greece.

[Showdown]

Translated from Canadian English to USA English: "He isn't Greek because he doesn't look like Greek". NBA should fine Ujiri for this.

[agkagk]

this video accurately reflects giannis' greek experience.

Watch on YouTube

totally relevant.

[KrAzY3]

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.

Here's the thing though, and this is important.

I won't get into the intricacies of immigration, my wife is a legal immigrant in American but I don't even know about the Greek system. Other than that all I can say is if he didn't arrive there legally, that's going to stifle the immigration process.

That aside, he came there for a better life and by all accounts that is what he received. If he wants things to be better for immigrants who come after him, he owes it both to them and to Greece to recognize that he is Greek. If he chooses to basically renounced Greece and claim he is Nigerian instead, he's affirming all the people who didn't want people like him to gain Greek citizenship in the first place. The notion that he just came there to get what he wanted and not to be a part of their country.

To counter that, to be the face of positive immigration he has to be out there in a way where Greece has to embrace him, not turn his back on them. I'm not saying he is, but if you want to make other illegal immigrants look bad, the first thing to do is to denounce the country you moved to and still claim the country you came from. Why would a country welcome people like that?

[freethedevil]

I think better of Giannis than to believe he's merely Greek when it is convenient for him.

See that a lot in soccer, guys not good enough to make their national team who then go play for their parents country.
And afterwards they'll talk about how much it means to them and how it was a choice from the heart.

Greece literally refused him untill he played in the nba. The whole point of a government is to serve the ppl's interest. If it can't do that, then it should forfeit the right to lesgislate laws

[Richfield]

He's from Earth. He's Earthling.

You see how borders divide us? These are political boundries we're all talking about. Giannis doesn't even work for a government.

Enough years ago there were no government borders, just people. Some over here, some over there.

If somebody wants to make it about culture, one will argue he's a lot of things. Nigerian from his immediate family's influence, a little bit Greek, and now a little bit American. His culture is who he spends time around, identifies with, and learns from. The idea that you have to choose just one is part of where in the problem lies. Those that insist he is just one thing, it's not really their say. If he wants to identify with just one place, which I don't think he would do, so be it, that's his business. (somebody also mentioned that it's his business, props)

Sadly and unfortunately people also want to define what you are based on what you do in life, not where you're born or who your parents are or what you identify with.

For instance in France, if you're a hero because you just scaled a building to save a dangling baby, or if you help the National Soccer Team win a World Cup, to the masses you're most definitely French. But if you have the exact same background/parents/etc, and you wander the streets asking for change or commit crimes, you're an African, or an immigrant. People are going to try to identify who you are based on if they want you in their group or not, usually based on what you do. Not who you really are.

So I'm not buying any of it. If he wants to identify as this or that, so be it. Just listen to him and respect it. But it's not up to us.

[nedleeds]

Tampering.org

[HeartBreakKid]

He is Greek nationally and Nigerian ethnically. It's not that complicated.

[will]

When does Giannis apply for American citizenship?