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

[Pelon chingon]

See told you guys. He was simply born in Europe he is not European.

[Rendei]

At the very least, he chooses to play for the Greek national team. He could play for the Nigerian one instead if he really wanted to.

[nycefnl]

Yeah I hate when they call him that nickname. Your name is what your kids inherit not "Greek Freak"

[KrAzY3]

I didn't make the rules of society. I am just aware of them and have to live in it.

First off, why acknowledge imaginary rules you do not accept?

Seriously. I think you're American. What do you consider yourself? If you don't consider yourself American, then that is your choice but you are left with little to complain about if you are not accepted because you don't accept yourself. There's no need to make yourself complicit in the refusal of others to accept you.

If you don't consider yourself American, if you by your own thoughts and actions set yourself apart, then you are a willing participant in being set apart. It's up to you to change things as well, if some racist jerk thinks less of you that's on him, why acknowledge and reward that?

The idea though that someone can be born in a country and raised in that country and not part of that country is quite frankly completely wrong. Especially in the case of Giannis, whose family came there deliberately and willingly for a better life. To say I want to come to your country and be a part of your country but refuse to acknowledge it would be disrespectful of that relationship.

At the very least, he chooses to play for the Greek national team. He could play for the Nigerian one instead if he really wanted to.

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

[TheGOATWill]

The Greek spot downstairs for lunch sounds amazing right now.

[kodo]

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

It was Greece who wouldn't adopt Giannis' family, not the other way around.

Until recently, 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.

- NY Times

[Jazz9]

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.

[elBJ]

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.

gives some context, thx.

Yeah in this case it's a discussion to be had, I looked up some stuff myself and while we Europeans don't do a good job across the Mediterranean with humanitarian help (that goes beyond band aids especially) as well as immigrants in general, it's also a slippery slope hearing a guy like Giannis who has no real idea of Nigeria (the country) attribute all positive things in his family as Nigerian. That's tribalism that hurts to see, but yeah if the citizenship only goes trough so he can play on the national team (and this happens) that's something to address and he might not feel that included.

Nationalities are dumb and the concept of certain mindsets and mentalities, based on races or nationalities is hurtful to us as a people.

[PhilBlackson]

His last name sounds pretty Greek to me amirite?!

[JayMKE]

If anybody besides Masai said this there would be a lot more negative reaction.

[Freighttrain]

Watch on YouTube

Doesn't sound Nigerian to me but what do I know

[TheBoi10]

Masai bringing his son Giannis home

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

“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. It’s about discipline, it’s about respecting your elders, having morals.”

[Saciid11]

Masai is 100% right on this, Gianni’s is Nigerian and will never be excepted as Greek by the Greeks.

[TheBoi10]

Read on Twitter

[chrisab123]

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.

Cant wait to be outraged on behalf of Giannis

[SeniorWalker]

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

best post I've seen in awhile.

[hype_2004]

"Nigerian Freak" does not have a very good ring to it.

He needs to change his name to "Nigerian Nightmare" ala Christian Okoye. That is more intimidating than "Greek Freak" which kinda sounds a little bit ambiguous, lol!

[TheBoi10]

Antetokounmpo and his brothers were all born in Greece. They never knew anything but Greek life until they moved to Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo reportedly values Nigerian culture handed down by his parents, but his life has been Greece and America.

Despite being born in Greece, Antetokounmpo spent most of his life in citizenship limbo. It was not until he became semi-prominent as a basketball player that he was granted Greek citizenship and a Greek passport.

I don't understand the narrative that Ujiri has "helped" Giannis. Giannis owes more of his success to help that he received from his European and current agents and John Hammond and Jon Horst. He has also been helped by Jason Kidd, Sean Sweeney and Kobe Bryant. What has Ujiri done?

Wrong https://streamable.com/3xhsx

[Saciid11]

Masai bringing his son Giannis home

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

“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. It’s about discipline, it’s about respecting your elders, having morals.”

Raptors 2021 trio of Kawhi, Gianni’s and Pascal ..

[gpoon]

Everyone can identify as whatever they want these days welcome to 2019...