Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
Moderators: bisme37, Dirk, KingDavid, cupcakesnake, bwgood77, zimpy27, infinite11285, Clav, ken6199, Domejandro
Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- VinBaker6
- RealGM
- Posts: 26,241
- And1: 61,808
- Joined: Jul 24, 2012
- Location: The Horn
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- homecourtloss
- RealGM
- Posts: 11,313
- And1: 18,720
- Joined: Dec 29, 2012
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian

lessthanjake wrote:Kyrie was extremely impactful without LeBron, and basically had zero impact whatsoever if LeBron was on the court.
lessthanjake wrote: By playing in a way that prevents Kyrie from getting much impact, LeBron ensures that controlling for Kyrie has limited effect…
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
-
- Lead Assistant
- Posts: 5,379
- And1: 6,500
- Joined: Jun 12, 2008
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
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.
If the Clippers win the championship next year I'm getting banned from RealGM
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 14,457
- And1: 7,665
- Joined: Oct 22, 2004
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
Forte IV wrote: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.
One, it's literally not the equivalent of that because his parents are Nigerians from Nigeria who came as adults. Your example doesn't work.
Two, he was stateless for a while. That's pretty different. Giannis clearly identifies as Greek - at least publicly - but that's different I think from what Masai is saying.
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- VinBaker6
- RealGM
- Posts: 26,241
- And1: 61,808
- Joined: Jul 24, 2012
- Location: The Horn
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
Forte IV wrote: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.

S/O to TZ!
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- VinBaker6
- RealGM
- Posts: 26,241
- And1: 61,808
- Joined: Jul 24, 2012
- Location: The Horn
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
XxIronChainzxX wrote:Forte IV wrote: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.
One, it's literally not the equivalent of that because his parents are Nigerians from Nigeria who came as adults. Your example doesn't work.
Two, he was stateless for a while. That's pretty different. Giannis clearly identifies as Greek - at least publicly - but that's different I think from what Masai is saying.
Giannis identifies as Nigerian before Greek

S/O to TZ!
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
-
- General Manager
- Posts: 7,580
- And1: 20,492
- Joined: Jul 11, 2018
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
IBTL
Ethnically he's Nigerian. That's indisputable. Nationality is a different issue though.
Ethnically he's Nigerian. That's indisputable. Nationality is a different issue though.
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- NoDopeOnSundays
- RealGM
- Posts: 26,791
- And1: 55,507
- Joined: Nov 22, 2005
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
Masai and Hakeem are so proud of Giannis, they both sound like proud fathers when they speak about him.
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- Yuri Vaultin
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 21,168
- And1: 14,506
- Joined: Jun 24, 2006
- Location: In a tree by your window.
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
"Nigerian Freak" does not have a very good ring to it.

Props to Turbo_Zone for the sig.
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 19,310
- And1: 12,418
- Joined: Jul 09, 2002
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
I think Giannis is the one who gets to decide if he identifies as Greek or not. Not Masai.
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- AdagioPace
- Lead Assistant
- Posts: 5,875
- And1: 7,421
- Joined: Jan 03, 2017
- Location: Contado di Molise
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
continuing the discussion from the other thread: I understand the "African proudness" is playing a role here.
On the other hand Giannis (himself) doesn't seem disrespectful towards his greek nationality which means he's thankful to Greece and the role it played in his early life (with all the contradictions ingrained in the european way of accepting and integrating migrants and relative children)
On the other hand Giannis (himself) doesn't seem disrespectful towards his greek nationality which means he's thankful to Greece and the role it played in his early life (with all the contradictions ingrained in the european way of accepting and integrating migrants and relative children)
"La natura gode della natura; la natura trionfa sulla natura; la natura domina la natura" - Ostanes
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
-
- Senior
- Posts: 696
- And1: 1,114
- Joined: Apr 15, 2019
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
Only in the US is this a problem. It's literally the only country where people must claim some other nationality outside of the US. "My great grandma was sheep herding in Scotland so I'm Scottish". No, you're American bc you were born here mfer.
Chalk this up to the lack of identity stemming from a land of migrants and heterogeneity of the US. Quite sad
Chalk this up to the lack of identity stemming from a land of migrants and heterogeneity of the US. Quite sad
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
-
- Lead Assistant
- Posts: 4,635
- And1: 10,054
- Joined: Aug 02, 2013
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
He is greek.
He might not want to be greek, he might even identify himself as non-greek, and I respect that. Not everyone is forced to like the land he was born in or the country that claims his citizenship. That's understandable. Here in Europe we deal with that kind of feeling quite often, just ask many scottish people, or basque ones.
But he is what his passport says he is.
Nobody says he can't be nigerian too, he is entitled to feel as nigerian as he wants. But saying he's nigerian is one thing, saying he is NOT greek is an entirely different animal. It sounds similar but it ain't, and Ujiri might not understand the nuances when discussing this kind of subject... Or he might have just ignored them.
He might not want to be greek, he might even identify himself as non-greek, and I respect that. Not everyone is forced to like the land he was born in or the country that claims his citizenship. That's understandable. Here in Europe we deal with that kind of feeling quite often, just ask many scottish people, or basque ones.
But he is what his passport says he is.
Nobody says he can't be nigerian too, he is entitled to feel as nigerian as he wants. But saying he's nigerian is one thing, saying he is NOT greek is an entirely different animal. It sounds similar but it ain't, and Ujiri might not understand the nuances when discussing this kind of subject... Or he might have just ignored them.
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- RCM88x
- RealGM
- Posts: 15,183
- And1: 19,125
- Joined: May 31, 2015
- Location: Lebron Ball
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
ropjhk wrote:I think Giannis is the one who gets to decide if he identifies as Greek or not. Not Masai.
It's 2019, we will decide for him.

LookToShoot wrote:Melo is the only player that makes the Rockets watchable for the basketball purists. Otherwise it would just be three point shots and pick n roll.
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- RunSunRun
- Veteran
- Posts: 2,789
- And1: 723
- Joined: Apr 25, 2010
- Location: PHX
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
Its up to Giannis and whatever passport he has
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- Texas Chuck
- Senior Mod - NBA TnT Forum
- Posts: 92,280
- And1: 98,046
- Joined: May 19, 2012
- Location: Purgatory
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
RCM88x wrote:ropjhk wrote:I think Giannis is the one who gets to decide if he identifies as Greek or not. Not Masai.
It's 2019, we will decide for him.
Thread over
ThunderBolt wrote:I’m going to let some of you in on a little secret I learned on realgm. If you don’t like a thread, not only do you not have to comment but you don’t even have to open it and read it. You’re welcome.
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- Zaschrona
- Sixth Man
- Posts: 1,932
- And1: 1,362
- Joined: Dec 10, 2011
- Location: Czechia
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
Nigerian Freek*
*according to Ujiri
*according to Ujiri
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
- elBJ
- Pro Prospect
- Posts: 886
- And1: 697
- Joined: Jan 21, 2014
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
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'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.
Guest202 wrote:Even Wall Street Journal subscribers think it was fixed...
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
-
- Head Coach
- Posts: 7,262
- And1: 3,236
- Joined: Dec 09, 2018
-
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
ropjhk wrote:I think Giannis is the one who gets to decide if he identifies as Greek or not. Not Masai.
and he decided he indentifies as nigerian, so...
Re: Masai Ujiri: Giannis is not Greek, he's Nigerian
-
- Head Coach
- Posts: 6,364
- And1: 1,180
- Joined: Apr 28, 2006
-