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

Hindenburg · Post #21 » by **Hindenburg** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:52 pm

Ehh... who cares? It's Giannis' business.

Nazrmohamed · Post #22 » by **Nazrmohamed** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:54 pm

homecourtloss wrote:

Lmfao

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #23 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:54 pm

elBJ wrote: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.

LofJ · Post #24 » by **LofJ** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:56 pm

I don't know why Masai thinks he can speak for Giannis. He can identify with whatever ethnicity or nationality he wants to (Nigerian, Greek, Pan-African, whatever).

It's a shame that just because he's a black man that grew up in a European country people act like he has to choose an allegiance. Why? What does it matter? How Giannis feels about his roots is his business, not Masai's or anyone else's.

skones · Post #25 » by **skones** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:57 pm

who cares

Balllin · Post #26 » by **Balllin** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:57 pm

By law Giannis is a nigerian national, as you automatically become one if one of your parents is one. So he holds dual nationality and could have easily represented nigeria internationally legally.

RunSunRun · Post #27 » by **RunSunRun** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:59 pm

You can't make this up, but Masai just said he's staying because his wife and kids are Canadian...even though Masai is from Nigeria and his wife is from Sierra Leone. Either he's trolling or he doesn't understand.

winter_mute_13 · Post #28 » by **winter_mute_13** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:59 pm

His nationality is Greek, his ethnicity is Nigerian. This isn't very hard.

As to which one he identifies with more, that's up to him. For people like me from an immigrant background, it's hard to imagine the answer being anything but "both", to varying degrees of course depending on the person.

I'm not Nigerian, so I can't speak about that, but some in my native country are quick to claim credit when one of us finds success overseas, forgetting that it was the dire conditions at home that prompted the move in the first place. I'm not sure how much credit the original country deserves, really.

Paradise · Post #29 » by **Paradise** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:59 pm

VinBaker6 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.

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

My guy is Nigerian through and through.

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. Therefore, he might call himself a Nigerian Moor which is his nationality before proclaiming to be “Greek” .

BlazersBroncos · Post #30 » by **BlazersBroncos** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:00 pm

IDK, it seems sorta low key douchy of someone to not adopt the nationality of a country that granted you a better life.

He is ethnically Nigerian, but his nationality is Greek. Its not like immoral to choose to be referred to as Nigarian, but I know that I would like to verbalize the country that took me in moreso than the one that I just happened to be born into.

VinBaker6 · Post #31 » by **VinBaker6** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:00 pm

winter_mute_13 wrote:His nationality is Greek, his ethnicity is Nigerian. This isn't very hard.

As to which one he identifies with more, that's up to him. For people like me from an immigrant background, it's hard to imagine the answer being anything but "both", to varying degrees of course depending on the person.

I'm not Nigerian, so I can't speak about that, but some in my native country are quick to claim credit when one of us finds success overseas, forgetting that it was the dire conditions at home that prompted the move in the first place. I'm not sure how much credit the original country deserves, really.

He's already said he identifies as Nigerian first

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Illmatic12 · Post #32 » by **Illmatic12** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:01 pm

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.

No it’s not the same - Giannis is legally a Nigerian national and he has a Nigerian passport.

Antetokounmpo said he also got his Nigerian passport in 2015.

When asked why he acquired a Nigerian passport, Antetokounmpo answered, “It’s important. It’s part of who I am. Both of my parents are Nigerian. They wanted me to get it. I wanted to have it, so I got it.”

The nation of Nigeria has sui generis citizenship, meaning that by virtue of his parents being born in the country he automatically has citizenship, even before he was accepted by Greece. That’s why he was able to claim his heritage and receive his passport.

VinBaker6 · Post #33 » by **VinBaker6** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:01 pm

skones wrote:who cares

Giannis admires and respects him. He wants to win a title. Hopefully the Bucks can take the next step cuz I wouldn't want Masai in a room with Giannis in July 2021.

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Jazz9 · Post #34 » by **Jazz9** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:02 pm

Uhhh...who the hell does he think he is to say that?
Don't tell Giannis what he is or isn't

Illmatic12 · Post #35 » by **Illmatic12** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:03 pm

BlazersBroncos wrote:IDK, it seems sorta low key douchy of someone to not adopt the nationality of a country that granted you a better life.

He is ethnically Nigerian, but his nationality is Greek. Its not like immoral to choose to be referred to as Nigarian, but I know that I would like to verbalize the country that took me in moreso than the one that I just happened to be born into.

That country refused to accept him until recently though and his family endured a lot of racism.

If he wasn’t a 7’ basketball player he’d still be on the streets and the Greek gov’t wouldnt give a damn about him

LouisLitt · Post #36 » by **LouisLitt** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:03 pm

Paradise wrote:
VinBaker6 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.

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

My guy is Nigerian through and through.

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.

mtcan · Post #37 » by **mtcan** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:05 pm

Jazz9 wrote:Uhhh...who the hell does he think he is to say that?
Don't tell Giannis what he is or isn't

Masai is a G...even Oakland police don't get to tell him where to go. :lol:

freethedevil · Post #38 » by **freethedevil** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:05 pm

Jazz9 wrote:Uhhh...who the hell does he think he is to say that?
Don't tell Giannis what he is or isn't

giannis has literally said he's nigerian.

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #39 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:05 pm

Jazz9 wrote:Uhhh...who the hell does he think he is to say that?
Don't tell Giannis what he is or isn't

He's already addressed that -

“I grew up in a Nigerian home,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, I was born in Greece and went to school in Greece. But at the end of the day when I go home, there is no Greek culture. It’s straight-up Nigerian culture"

“There are a lot of people that I see and I tell them that I am African."

He's become more vocal about his Nigerian roots in the last few months, seemed to start around the time a host on Greek TV said his brother was a monkey.

VinBaker6 · Post #40 » by **VinBaker6** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 4:06 pm

Jazz9 wrote:Uhhh...who the hell does he think he is to say that?
Don't tell Giannis what he is or isn't

He knows Giannis and his family really well. He's also stating facts. Greece didn't care about Giannis until he was a great basketball player. It's a testament to Giannis and his character that he even reps Greece the way he does.

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