The NBA has facilitated many rags-to-riches stories of hope. The most notable among those is of course LeBron James, whose rise from the mean streets of Akron, Ohio, is an urban legend among fans. However, LBJ’s phenomenal story is one of many. Another superstar who we know and love Giannis Antetokounmpo has also had a nuclear rise to the top. From being a Nigerian immigrant in Athens, Greece, to winning the NBA championship in 2021 has truly been an exceptional journey.

However, oftentimes behind the meteoric rise, there are always unseen sacrifices of silent heroes. In Antetokounmpo’s case, it was his family. “Giannis: The Marvelous Journey,” which just premiered on Amazon Prime, gives fans a glimpse into the battles of the ‘Greek Freak’. It illustrates how broken down the two-time MVP was after his father’s passing. His mental health took him to a point of no return, which prompted him to leave the sport that he had fought so hard to play.

Giannis Antetokounmpo battles grief and comes victorious on the other side

In the excerpt from the series, Antetokounmpo’s fiancee tries to explain Giannis’ mental state, “It was a tough year, just emotionally and mentally. And All this pressure of “Giannis, in order to seal who you are, you have to win a championship,” it gets to you.”

Charles Antetokonmpo Giannis’s dad was a former soccer player who left their hometown of Lagos for Athens to give him and his siblings a better life. So, it’s justified that his demise in 2017 would come as a huge shock to the whole family, particularly Giannis, who had reached his “boiling point.” ” I was dealing with some stuff. I don’t think I had enough time to grieve my father.” said the Greek Freek. He further stated the reasons for his unease: ” I had to be there for my brothers and my mom.”

“Seeing your mom sad and wearing black clothes and all that is not a good feeling. And I don’t think I had time to kind of..take for myself, talk with my family. So I said, ,”I don’t wanna play no more, there’s no joy. It’s torture,” expressed Antetokounmpo.

Read More: “We Gotta Beat Some Kids”: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Pep Talk for Damian Lillard at All-Star Game Halftime

However, Giannis didn’t quit. He sought help from a sports psychologist and it was the “best” decision. In the end, the Greek Freak’s mental fortitude paved the way for the Milwaukee Bucks to win a chip. The former MVP’s journey is a reminder that despite all his accomplishments, a mental battle is most hard fought, and the reason for his greatness stems way beyond the hardwood floor.

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