CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 30: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball during the third quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 30, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Bucks: Why “Greek Freak” is a great nickname for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bucks, Giannis Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s nickname: Describes his style of play
In the last 20 years, superhero films have become more popular than they ever were before. It seems that every summer a huge Marvel or DC blockbuster is released, raking in piles of cash across the globe. As thrilling as the special effects are, a major part of the appeal is how each character’s name reveals something about their identity. Spider-man was bitten by a spider that gave him powers. Batman has a laboratory in a cave filled with bats, where he designs his weapons. And so on, and so forth…
The NBA is filled with incredible athletes whose exploits are as close to those of a superhero as humanly imaginable. However, not every hero’s moniker matches his abilities. LeBron James is commonly referred to as “King James.” While that is a clever play on a version of an ancient text, it says nothing about what he actually does on the basketball court. Similarly, James Harden is often referred to as “The Beard.” While it is an accurate reference to Harden’s chosen fashion statement, one visit to an overzealous barber would ruin the nickname for good.
This is not the case for Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is referred to as a “freak” because of his freakish athleticism. He is undoubtedly one of the highest leapers in the entire league; which seems unfair given that he stands 6’11” tall. Not since a young Dwight Howard won the dunk contest as a member of the Orlando Magic has a man that size had one of the best vertical leaps in the NBA.
However, Antetokounmpo is much more agile than Howard ever was. He has the agility of a 6’6″ wing player and the speed of a 6’1″ point guard. That’s not to mention that he’s gotten stronger every year since he was drafted; he’s now one of the strongest basketball players in the world as well. It is a freakish combination of size, speed, strength and athleticism. That’s why he’s on the shortlist of the best basketball players in the world.
!["Bucks,](https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/29/bucks-giannis-greek-freak/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2341,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2017%2F07%2F16842293.jpeg")
because of his freakish athleticism</a>. He is undoubtedly one of the highest leapers in the entire league; which seems unfair given that he stands 6’11” tall. Not since a young Dwight Howard won the dunk contest as a member of the Orlando Magic has a man that size had one of the best vertical leaps in the NBA.</p>
<p>However, Antetokounmpo is much more agile than Howard ever was. He has the agility of a 6’6″ wing player and the speed of a 6’1″ point guard. That’s not to mention that he’s gotten stronger every year since he was drafted; he’s now one of the strongest basketball players in the world as well. It is a freakish combination of size, speed, strength and athleticism. That’s why he’s on the shortlist of the best basketball players in the world.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/29/bucks-giannis-greek-freak/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Catchy because it rhymes </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-422477" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/29/bucks-giannis-greek-freak/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1300756740.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1300756740.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1300756740-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Bucks, Giannis (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Giannis Antetokounmpo’s nickname: Catchy because it rhymes</h2>
<p>Joel Embiid was a project player when he was drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014. He was selected six days after having surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot. After several setbacks, he finally made his regular-season debut in 2016, more than two years after he was drafted. Along the way, the Sixers habit of drafting players who were either injured or not ready to contribute right away became known as “The Process.” Eventually, the moniker stuck to Embiid, who can often be heard telling reporters to “Trust the Process” in reference to himself. There’s just one problem, it’s not catchy.</p>
<p>A great nickname has a ring to it. It flows off of the tongue with ease. In the ’90s Snoop Dogg made a reference to Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield in the smash hit “Gin and Juice.” To this day, the phrase “The Hick From French Lick” requires no further explanation. Everyone who hears it knows it is a reference to Larry Bird. While many of today’s players have fitting nicknames, no one has a moniker as catchy as the one that belongs to Giannis Antetokounmpo.</p>
<p>Giannis’ nickname flows so well that it has become a part of his line of sneakers and t-shirts. Playing for the small-market Milwaukee Bucks, it would be easy for advertisers to side-step the two-time MVP in favor of players in bigger cities. However, Giannis has avoided this pitfall and has just as many ads as any other top-five basketball player in the world. While his play on the court deserves the majority of the credit, his nickname has definitely boosted his marketability.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/29/bucks-giannis-greek-freak/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reference to his origins </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-436062" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/29/bucks-giannis-greek-freak/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1235294319.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1235294319.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1235294319-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Bucks, Giannis (Photo by COSTAS BALTAS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Giannis Antetokounmpo’s nickname: Reference to his origins</h2>
<p>As a member of the Duke Blue Devils, shooting guard Trajan Langdon had a memorable college basketball career that culminated with a trip to the Final Four in 1999. However, as much as he is remembered for being an exceptional 3-point shooter, he is also remembered for having one of the coolest nicknames in college basketball: “The Alaskan Assassin.”</p>
<p>What’s significant about Langdon’s nickname is that it clearly identified where he was from. In the 1990s not very many players from Alaska were playing division one basketball, especially not at a perennial powerhouse like Duke. Langdon’s home state made him stand out immediately. Fortunately, he had the game to back it up.</p>
<p>It’s been a long time since a basketball player’s nickname was so clearly tied to his background. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s incredible story is inextricably linked to his family’s rise out of poverty in Greece to their emergence to prominence and power today. From his humble beginnings, Giannis learned hard work. Now “The Greek Freak” is seeing the fruits of his labor. It is a great sports story and a modern-day tale of rags to riches.</p>
<p>While basketball historians will always remember the great monikers of the past, the most fitting nickname of the present day belongs to Giannis Antetokounmpo. While he is freakishly athletic and accomplished on the court, he is level-headed and well-rounded off of it. He’s got one NBA championship yet he’s still hungry for more. “The Greek Freak” is a man on a mission. Milwaukee Bucks fans are more than happy to continue watching him dominate.</p>
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