From Illegal Immigrant To Carrying Greece's Flag In Olympics (GIANNIS' STORY) 

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Greece didn’t have a shooting problem in last Eurobasket. In the Eurobasket in Germany the Germans played their best game ever until that point. They beat a very good Greece who only lost one game. The year after Germany became world champion playing that brand of basketball. So Greece played the wrong opponent at the wrong time if you ask me. A world class German team playing as underdogs in their home court.

Giannis wasnnt illegal immigrant,he was born in Greece. But greece has not born into greek citizenship. We are a getaway country to illegal immigration,so it is not so easy to do it.

Man, growing up in Greece is tough no matter if you're alien or not,i mean i was born in South Africa with my both parents being Greek,and oh boy did i learn about racism at a very young age. Although Greek have one very Great quality,that is when some people support you,they will do it till the end. I am so happy that philathliticos gave Gianni's the opportunity to get into the sport,and Also so happy for all his family subduing any obstacles and manage so great... Keep on being great 👍

Giannis loves and respects Greece..Thats why he had the Greek flag in Draft night🇬🇷

Thanasis is the reason why Giannis wanted to play basketball. His family is the reason why he kept playing.

You have no doubt, Soviet type bureaucracy in Greece does not discriminate in white and black, it makes it difficult for all and Antetokounbos know that.

couldn't be more proud to have Giannis carry the Greek flag.

This video comes across as very ignorant. I am not saying Giannis and his family faced 0 racism, but he also had a lot of people who actually helped, but you only focused on the negative to make it sound much worse than it was. Yeah, he had a tough time, but they were immigrants with no papers. The fact that they were not sent away, like other countries would do, shows how hospitable Greece and the Greek people are. He represents Greece because even though he had a tough life, he also had a lot of people who did help him and support him and Greece gave him a chance other countries wouldn't.

The part that surprised me the most was that they lived in Germany before coming to Greece. If it hadn't been for Charles A. getting injured, they probably would've stayed in Germany and Giannis would be German, or who knows what would've happened! Crazy how things turn out. I'd love to see Greece finishing on the podium but there are so many quality opponents in the Olympics. I think that even if we finish with a bronze medal it would be a huge success for Greece! This Greek team feels like the best one we had since our last Golden Generation team with Diamantidis, Papaloukas and Spanoulis, and I love that we are not so dependent on Giannis anymore. Who knows, the sky is the limit and every game will be a battle!

He got the passport at 17, one full year before going to NBA. He was actually helped by Greeks to go to the NBA. In every country, there are immigration rules. His parents entered Greece illegally and never applied for asylum. They were involved in illegal business, selling fake goods in black market. Not paying taxes or health insurance. According to law, Greece should have deported them! But Greece kept them in. His parents were helped to have 4 kids. They were born in Greek hospitals, they went to Greek schools, they learned playing basketball in Greece. Their neighbors, their church community, their school teachers, their schoolmates and teammates, their coaches, their godmothers, they all loved and helped those kids. Giannis is aware of all these, that's why his loves Greece.

Being a greek and seeing giannis keep trying to win from 2014 to 2024 is so emotional

Hello from Greece. Many times I felt thankful to Giannis and his family for keeping the Greek colors height.Nice video.Thank you.

I'm Greek and proud 👏 🥲 🥰 ✌

Im with Greece this time even the bracket is freaking deadly with Canada Australia and Spain

Giannis will be the first athlete to start the parade of athletes, not just the Greek flag bearer

It wasn't personal, it wasn't racist, it wasn't nationalist, the almighty Greek bureocracy will gladly screw up anyone. It surely did my family in multiple ways, and my DNA heritage test says we've been Greek for thousands of years.

MEGA GIANNIS❤ Thanks Greece🇬🇷. Thanks America🇺🇸 🥰😍🤩💯

I am greek and completely not bias so I thing Greece will win the Olympics!!! 😎

Giannis deserves credit & kudos for surviving in his young years during the EU financial crisis that decimated southern EU countries for many years--especially Greece! He's a Winner & has a long way to go! His traditional family ethic & hard work is an example to other young athletes everywhere in the world! Great video!

Lol bro for Athenean hoods playing basket with all types of color ppl was at least fron 00s normal ...i even had the oppurtunity to play with Thanasi in Aigaleo one time

I see in every video Lithuanian funs to be sooooo proud that their national team is so "pure" and doesn't have naturalized or immigrant children and bla bla and now this video feels ho hypocritical without addressing that issue on Lithuania before speaking for another country.

Boy for some reason you don't like Greece too much. Not only in this video, but other ones you made that have to do with Greece. You stress only on the negative things. Unfortunately racism is everywhere and alot worse in some other countries. I'm sure you know this.. There is no perfect country!. Do you ever wonder why Giannis and his family love Greece so much no matter what they read and hear? What's the purpose of your nagativity to the whole nation of Greece??? Respect to the parents for the way they raised their children. Just my opinion.

For the record, the Greeks as Orthodox Christians, are tolerant of immigrants and the parishes were already helping as Giannis has already said publicly (that the priest of his parish did helped him a lot). However in the years of the crisis the problem of immigrants was huge for the Greeks and for the immigrants themselves. This is to avoid misunderstandings about how things were in Greece back then. The other thing worth noting is that Giannis' upbringing was excellent and helped his family to feel Greece as home, to live as a Greek and then to be accepted as a Greek while this is not always the case. In conclusion, I believe that Giannis' story teaches us many things, most importantly the need to show understanding for the problems of others, not only immigrants but all people. And of course the people who are in the greatest need whether they are immigrants or natives should also be shown greater care, Jesus asks for being there for all those in need, next to us, regardless whether they are immigrants or natives and we all need to consider that more nowadays. Giannis ... thanks for all the great moments and the lessons all these years...and basketnews thanks for all your great videos

Giannis is the best player in the NBA and the world

Excellent. Thank you

Greece all time starting 5 PG:Nick Galis SG:Spanoulis SF:Diamantidis PF:Printezis/Fotsis debatable C:Antetokounmpo 6th man:Theo papaloukas Coach:Panagiotis Giannakis

I am suprised that this video has such a Anti-Greek vibe, despite your best wishes in the end for a medal. Giannis has said multiple times that he didnt experience racism in Greece. Though if your sources is the disney Movie Rise about Giannis and his family, i can see why you would think this way. The matter with his passport was just bureaucracy and was just a matter of time to be solved. I ask you only this. If Greece was so horrible to GIannis and his Family, why does he loves representing us and spends each summer in Greece? IF there such Racism, how come he is the biggest star in Greece? Maybe his life in Greece wasnt as horid as you present it.

Εινε τεραστιοσ ΑΓΑΠΑΜΕ ΓΙΑΝΝΗ❤❤❤

Only RESPECT for this guy

Thanks God Giannis doesn't see all things one-sided like the writer of the video does because he would never play for Greece. Also Lithuanians make us lessons on racism? How many immigrant children you have in your national team?

You said it as it is. Because of these hurdles he had to come through we are proud he represents the Greek Nation... NOT the State, that's failed a long time ago.

If you are not cheering for Giannis at this point, you're probably a sociopath. Go Greece!

The problem isn't Antetokoumbo. The problem is when you see a European team without Europeans. (see France both at football and at basketball...). Sadly if that racial mixing of Europe and Africa keeps going, in a few years, most of the European players will be black. Some may like that... But I don't.

Half made up stories, half truths, half research, bad job mate….

He is not the first black athlete to play for Greece

Illegal entry is punishable with imprisonment or fine, and ofcourse departure + re-entry ban. In which universe they sould be awarded with Greek passport for their crime?

GIANNIS AND HIS FAMILY THATS WHO I CALL REAL GREEKS LEVENDES

💕💕💕

It meant a ton to giannis

0:05 ... Actually is also IS a Hollywood movie. 🤣 (Disney made a Giannis biopic a few years ago.)

The racist card is not valid for Greece. We dont have colonial past (we were slaves of the ottomans the same era as African slave trades took place) and we didnt have immigration because we were always poor in comparison with other European countries. If you have said that we re prejudiced against other religeons i wouldnt say anything because its true. But melanine is no issue for us. Giannis parents just came to a country without the proper legislation, by todays standarts, about immigrants

This year im gonna like it because all the teams have a good team and every friendly goes 1-2 up 1-2down ,so I think we gonna have the best games this Olympics and I like foul,so lets start,go Greece!!! Difficult because and Canada and Australia and Spain are incredibles teams to beat! So Giannis i want from you in every match 40p20r10as. Im joking but Greece is not the favourite maybe as the best third but again every team we gonna play it's unbelievable! So let see some luck,but in end USA logical gonna take with this team! So lets see

USA are a multiethnic state, so any can carrying as represntative the (multiethnic) state's Flag. Greece is monoethnic state, made from Greek people for Greek people host, so a different descent can not express as flag's representative the Greek nation. To ancient years is prohibit if someone hasa NO Greek descent, to participate to Olympic games. Now the modern ones, are called Olympic games, though, they do not make them in Olympia, Greece, neither are monoethnic, but participate many nations worldwide. So rules changed to the participation mode, this violate the core of what Greece is, and what Olympic games represent, but we bypass this, as a shared to rest of the world, way of living. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a hard working person, who deserves respect. He & the Greek state's officials, choose to participate with Greece, to a violated Olympic games core. But he is not representative of Greek gennera, same as if you, me or anyone could not carry Nigeria's nation flag, if Nigeria comitee choose us to participate and if we accept this. So its not about offense to anyone, its about representing identity civilisation's values. So the basic meaning is that Greek civilisation values are breached, from this political deccission, which is not a fault of Giannis. Greek state, and Greeks have many ways to honor Giannis, giving a road with his name, a new basketball stadium name etc etc not represanting a different descent nation, nation is not the law, is the become, the descent, the edjucation identity and the law, unfortunately many modern nations, have different civilisation rules, and different society, so its not about racism, or offence, its about represantion and values. Today states have no common values. And also in Greece the politicians try hard to abandon Greek civilisation values, as political system is complete corrupted, so they vote laws that support this multiethnic soup, infact offending the (Nigerian) descent (identity) of Giannis to our case, its not offensive if a Nigerian wants and fight for Greece, but he can not represent the majority of the nation as symbol, as also we can not full all any Greek national team with different nationality descent people, but only some rare exceptions, and that only if both sides, athletes, people, society, accepted, and law enable it. Its not all state's made in the same way, neither have same values. Monoethnic State is the indigenous locals, and this a continious in time Hellenism Greek civilisation Value.

It is a great story but there are Olympians and gold medalists that should be probably carrying the flag instead, no disrespect to Giannis who is also among the best in his field but it is somewhat unfair to existing Greek goldmedalists (in other sports) in the current team to be trailing behind someone who is not a goldmedalist yet. Good for flavour, great story and hopefully Giannis will also become an Olympic Greek goldmedalist but perhaps not entirely fair to other athletes.

The Baltic's Democraties have a very "dark " past at WW2 in matters of racism and others similar political issues. Lets saying no more... so please do not accuse us here in Greece- with at least 1.500.000 illegal emigrands in a total population of 10.500.000 milion people- for racism, taking advantage of Giannis case. I do love this basketball site. Better restrainted in basket. With respect and no hard feelings.

Despite all commments and all possible connotations, really irrelevant anyway, there are a very few people in Athens who they still call him Yanakis (a pet name meaning little Yannis or little John, if you like). These very few people are the ones that, without any second thoughts or stereotypes, supported him, his brothers and his family, he is privileged because he met them and they are privilleged to know this great guy, I guess that when he recognizes their voice calling him Yanaki, he will let anything he does with whatever guys might be with at this time.

Εύχομαι όχι οι νέες γενιές να γίνουν τέτοιοι παιχταραδες αλλά να πάρουν έστω κάτι από τον χαρακτήρα του γιατί είναι παράδειγμα προς μίμηση το παλικάρι!

Ok it's all good and fair criticism only if you have expressed the same views for Lithuania and Lithuanian national team in the past. Have you ever defended the idea that Lithuanian team should have immigrants and naturalized players? I think not. And I also think that in Lithuania is even more difficult to acquire a passport than Greece. So no, I don't think the criticism is well intended from your part. If you mention on a future live that you are in favor of an idea to include immigrants to Lithuanian national team then I could say the criticism was fair.

Just some clarifications. You can hardly find some black Greeks in Greece. The most popular ones (Schortsianitis and Isaias Matiaba) are children of Greeks married Africans. There were a period of high immigration rates from Africa but the most of them settled in Athens. So in the rest of the country seeing a black Greek will indeed seem like an alien. Nevertheless, nowadays in Athens there are many black Greeks due to the fact that immigrants (like the Antetokounmpo's) have had children who were raised in Greece, speak greek and have a greek mindset. Nikos Pappas, ex-PAO player, said that the neighbourhood where Antetokounmpos were raised (Sepolia) had really embraced and helped them. Giannis, also said, that Pappas has given him his first basket shoes. I am writing all these because I don't want Greece to be characterised as a racist country. It is, though, a common trait of societies that are largely homogeneous, like Greece (98% Greeks) to be a bit more reluctant to accept difference in large quantities, but Greeks, in general, when they meet someone, can accept them easily. After all, in our religion we say "we are all children of God". Mind you, in this downward spiral that we live in, where everyone is looking to save themselves, social cohesion is being destroyed. But then again, Greeks have held up well in the last few years.

HE IS THE BEST

Adetokumbo is Nigerian GIANNIS UGO ADETOKOUMBO

😢 hard

7:58 wasnt Spanoulis on that team?

So much truth! Thank you for your video

Giannis is a greek God...the skin color and the roots are never forgotten..but he played with heart and passion like greeks doing always. Their Team have a huge potential and they could be a top favorit on the Olympics and the next european and world comeptitions. We love their game!!! Amazing Team work. If we look today to another mediteranean country with immigration problems like Spain and the example in football, nobody discuss about the 2 black players in their team. They are spanish players and part of Spain. They won the Euro championship and this two boys Nico Williams and Lamin Yamal got World Super Stars ..The whole country ALL SPAIN LOVE them...same LIKE ALL GREEKS and the whole country Greece loves Giannis, Thanasis, Kosta and their Family....they are part of Greece with and without Sport and today current nationalplayers. Everything starts in this crazy Basketball Nation Greece, and influenced the boys around of Giannis to get Basketball Players. God thanks of this Greek guys which forced them to play this beautyfull sport. This country and all cicumstances make them huge athlets, amazing humble persons and they thanks this to God and to their birthplace Greece. It is like a fairytale and an amazing Story with this difficult background...he and his family is a example for every child. RESPECT to Giannis and his brothers and all their family. Iam sure that Giannis wants to win a big competition to dedicate it to his father Charles which is today in heaven.

What kind of targetman has football losed in Giannis...

Kudos to Giannis and his brothers they did not become drug dealers or thiefs or liars like YOU to make a living.

I have never heard eny antetokounmpos speak about racism. Wasn't Greece didn't provided Greek citizen. Is EU ruling. If they given citizen card then you're European and every one will left to more Prosper country's

ΠΑΜΕ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ!

The greek freak is the goat. The greek god. So great to see giannis with the Greece team in the olympic games in Paris. Lets go Greece

So the “ what went wrong with greek basketball “ is now pure propaganda about racism ! Complexes

ATOUTALER!

Greek laws when it comes for non natives to get citizenship are very strict,especially before SYRIZA goverment that they modernized them somewhat. No im not SYRIZA,before anyone says it. Im just stating facts. Compared to the average European laws,Greek laws are still strict by the way. Kids born here dont get citizenship automaticaly today also. They just have are given a chance to get citizenship before they become 18 year old and they have attented Greek school for 9 years or something. If they become 19 they lose the right to claim citizenship afterwards. At least thats what i know to be the case. You only have to ask all the hundred of thousands Albanians that are living in the country for decades now how easy it is/was for their kids that were born here to get citizenship. Especially back then. It was pretty much impossible. So its not like Giannis and his family was targeted cause of their skin or anything.

Crazy living your whole life stateless and only getting citizenship at 18 and only because you're very good at a sport. "Go back to your home" when the only home he ever knew was the one they were telling him to leave.

He hasn't won anything for Greece, so far. Not sure, if he ever will either...

Giannis is the new dna of Greece and we are proud of this!

Some "fun" facts about Giannis and his passport. -In 2010 the then Greek government tried to simplify citizenship procedures for foreign children born in Greece in order to finally allow them to get papers if they went to Greek school. Conservative politicians sued and the reform was abolished by the courts as unconstitutional. -In 2014 Giannis was going to the draft and the Greek basketball federation was worried that the Nigerians were trying to "steal" Giannis from Greece. They convinced the government to finally grant Giannis his papers. You want to hear a great joke. The prime minister at the time, who was pushed to give Giannis his papers was one of the conservative politicians who sued in 2010 to abolish the citizenship reform. Even today (he's no longer prime minister of course) he considers foreigners a destructive influence in Greek society. -Far right extremists were openly suggesting that Giannis was unfairly drafted and that this was nothing more than a globalist plot and that Giannis would be a massive failure in the NBA.

GREECE WILL GO FURTHER THAN LITHUANIA

We dont deserve him

And then geek fans, along with their Balkan neighbours keep on slandering the French team for not being " French enough"...

this is what rubbish we became, a foreign african millionaire to carry our olympic/greek flags. ancient greeks fought for glory and were poor.

Rejection? There are a lot of Greek talented children that nobody pays them to play BB. So he was lucky to born in Greece ( BB nation) .Time to give something back...

Prava krv starih Grka, potomak Aleksandra Velikog, Aristotela, Sokrata...

He shouldn't carry the flag because he has no olympic medal

From illegal immigrant to illegal immigrant. Naturalization is a manace. It has destroyed the essence of national teams in Europe. Giannis as a pure Nigerian, should have played for Nigeria

Please change the title, it is completely wrong. Giannis was neither illegal nor an immigrant. Giannis was born in Greece and according to European Law, he should be a Greek citizen from day 1 of his life. Illegal were the Greek governments that refused to adopt and apply the law and kept refusing while pretending to be a legitimate European member and lying to E.U. Systemic political racism denied Giannis, his brothers and thousands of other kids their legal human rights.

0:02 sports are not as important as immigration control. Unless you're black and trying to associate yourself w yt countries

Imagine being born in a country that demolishes graves of soviet soldiers of WWII

If Nigeria hadn't showed interest, Greece wouldn't even give them the citizenship.

the worst thing about the whole giannis story is that the politicians that were misspelling his surname deliberately now use his name to gain political growth and feel 'prowd for him ' . if i was him i am sure that i would never play again for greece national team .

We love Giannis, but only a Greek should carry the Greek flag. As simple as that. No hate.