No one expected Giannis Antetokounmpo to become the superstar he has become when he was first drafted into the NBA. Picked 15th in the 2013 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis was a lanky Forward with no hype around him. Knowing how things turned out for the Greek Freak, he would have gone Number 1 in that draft class if it was redone. That too, considering the fact that the Number 1 pick in the 2013 draft, Anthony Bennett turned out to be one of the biggest busts in NBA draft history.
Unfortunately, a fan was as oblivious to Giannis? superstar potential in 2014 as many others, leading to him incurring a $1.8 million loss.
NBA fan misses out on being a Millionaire
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After Greek Freak?s rookie season in 2014, a fan bought his rookie card on eBay for $7,000. Seeming like a huge amount at the time for a rookie player, the fan found two minor faults in the card. There was an indentation and a yellow stain on the card. Unhappy with the condition of his latest purchase, the fan returned the card for a full refund. That was an error that he would remember for the rest of his life.
? $1.8 Million MISTAKE ?
In 2014, Giannis Antetokounmpo?s most valuable rookie card in existence sold on eBay for $7,000.
Once the buyer got the card delivered, however, he noticed a small problem?
On the back of the card, the buyer saw that there were two minor issues?an? pic.twitter.com/K6DnFiyWuw
? The Collectibles Guru ? (@ericwhiteback) September 19, 2023
Because the card was re-auctioned in 2020, this time after Giannis had won 2 Back-to-back MVPs and become one of the biggest superstars in the NBA. The 6-year-old Rookie card sold for a whopping $1,812,000, leaving its previous owner in disbelief. If the fan had bared with the minor faults in the card in 2014, he would have made a massive profit of $1,805,000 by selling it in 2020. Or he could have kept it for many more years and made an even bigger profit, considering Giannis? stardom keeps getting bigger each year.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was always an Underdog
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It is hard to imagine a 7-foot 242-pound player as an underdog. But that is exactly what Giannis was when he started his career. No one saw his superstar potential except the Milwaukee Bucks, and even they would not have predicted the level of superstardom the Greek Freak would reach 10 years later. 2 MVP trophies and one NBA Championship later, Giannis is one of the most dominant players in the NBA.
With the superstar only 28 years old and entering his prime, Giannis will likely dominate the league for many more years. With a goal of winning another championship, the 7-time All-Star is looking for the best situation for him. He has clearly stated that he wants to be a winner, even if that means parting ways with the Milwaukee Bucks.
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As for that unfortunate fan, he would be cursing his stars every day for missing out on bagging an easy $1.8 million.
Watch This Story: As Giannis Antetokounmpo Threatens to Leave, Bucks? 2022-23 Season Confirmed a ?Failure? by NBA Insider: ?Can We Just Call It What It Was??