Who will be the next Giannis?
“Our goal is to take away the kids from the street and get them involved in sports and give them a basketball career,” says Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Meeting one’s idol can do wonders for a child!
I’ve heard numerous stories from successful athletes who were so inspired after meeting their personal hero, and they credit that encounter as the spark that pushed them further in their drive for excellence.
This is exactly what King Bally Entertainment had in mind when they brought Giannis Antetokounmpo to Manila recently. Not only did they make sure that he was able to meet a number of his Filipino fans, he was also instrumental in the rehabilitation of a basketball court in the community, specifically at Makati Science High School.
The “Greek Freak,” last season’s Most Improved Player in the NBA, took the country by storm, and every basketball fan did everything they could to be part of his activities and be able to come close to their hoop hero.
PHILIPPINE STAR: Welcome to Manila! You’re here obviously to be able to donate a basketball court to a high school.
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO: It’s my first time here in Manila, I thank King Bally, but you know, there’s a lot I’m trying to do here. Yes, there is that basketball court in high school, which is really important because our goal, and things that I do in Greece, is to take away the kids from the street and get them involved in sports and give them a basketball career. So, I’m excited to be here and be part of that.
Talk to us about these Kids with Cancer. (He was wearing a baller ID about these kids). Why is giving back to the community so important to you?
It’s just important to me! There’s nothing I give to them. I just wear the wristband. But for the kids, it already means a lot to them. I just remember from where I started and I’m trying to give back in ways that I can, it’s important coz that helps me to stay grounded.
Last season, Jason Kid said he was going to give you the ball, what was your first reaction?
He actually told me two years ago in summer league that I was the point guard. I like it! I had the ball in my hands, I could create, put my teammates in the right spots. I could score with the ball and I was really happy! He did it in a pre-season game and I had like eight turnovers. So it was like an experiment. Thank God, he was really smart about it, he gave me like 2-3 months into the season, I didn’t have the ball, then when our starting point guard went down, he told me I have to step up, have the ball, and then I had a great game. Then he told me I can have the ball, I can rebound the ball, call plays. During inbounds, I got the ball! So in his own way, he handled me right, and I love it so far.
You have very good core right now in Milwaukee, do you put a lot of attention to all the movements going on with players, moving from one place to the next?
Well, I just focus on my workout and I just have a smile on my face. Be ready to kill, and start the season with a killer instinct, and just dominate as much as I can.
Are you confident with the group that you have going into the next season?
Yeah, I’m really confident. I think we have a young core and we keep getting better, we can’t get worse, because we’re young. I know that everybody’s putting in the work and getting better. Yeah, I’m happy for the young core.
Advice to the young kids, they all want to become the next Giannis.
I’m not trying to be cocky or arrogant, but not everybody can become the next Giannis! Or the next Lebron, or the next KD! But you know, one thing you can do is work hard. No one can tell you how hard you can work. I mean, so whatever you do in life, whatever you love doing in life, just work that 100 percent! You can tell me, you cannot become the next Michael Jordan, but you can’t tell me how hard I can work. So for all the kids out there, the important thing is, work hard.
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