Most stories that inspire wouldn’t be remotely possible without a dreamy attitude. Within the NBA, there are thousands of athletes who growing up didn’t have the means to be successful, but they still persevered. The story of Giannis Antetokoumpo and his family comes from these roots. From immigrants in Greece, the Antetokounmpo family are now wealthy businessmen, with the Greek Freak being a catalyst for their improbable rise.

It seems though that he had an at-home teacher who taught him three key lessons to being an entrepreneur. Taking part in Legal Zoom’s collaboration with the NBA, Thanasis Antetokounmpo revealed these golden secrets from which everyone can benefit. The one thing it proves is that to be a thriving innovator, dashes of ‘delusion’ have to exist.

“To be an entrepreneur you have to be delusional, patient and be positive. It doesn’t matter how crazy your idea is if somebody hasn’t thought about it the way you’ve thought about it. If you tell a kid who’s from Greece playing in a third division that they’re going to play in the NBA, they’re going to think you’re delusional. But you end up playing,” said the eldest Antetokounmpo.

Patience and positivity go hand in hand. To reap the fruits of labor, complete trust is essential. Giannis Antetokounmpo used the exact formula to become a Goliath superstar. Utilizing the platform, he has now become a savvy businessman. Most recently, he launched a rose wine, ‘Mariah’ paying homage to his wife and longtime partner. He also has several other business ventures including his multi-million sneaker empire with Nike, Antetokounbros clothing lines alongside his brothers and even a media company called Improbable Media.

His two-time MVP brother agreed with the professor’s teachings. “Professor Thansis. Be more delusional”, he wrote.

Without the three keys to success, even the inspiring tale of Giannis Antetokounmpo wouldn’t exist. Wanting to see more dubious stories arise, he has become the face of Fast Break For Small to help other small businesses.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kelsey Plum and more raise their support for small businesses

A product of Legal Zoom and the NBA’s partnership is the Fast Break for Small grant program. It’s aim is to distribute $3 million in grants across varied small businesses and other innovative ventures. It opens up the horizon for hard-working and deserving creations to upscale their brand and also have access to the best resources.

As part of the program, Legal Zoom, the NBA, the WNBA, and the NBA’s G-League help by providing a $10,000 grant to small businesses. But it isn’t simply fiscal aid. It helps budding entrepreneurs across all facets of owning and running a venture. From registering businesses to attaining trademarks, everything is provided to those chosen for the grant.

Those small businesses that have been operational for at least three months are eligible to apply for the same. They can choose between funding of $10,000 or even claiming $500 worth of Legal Zoom products and resources to help bolster their businesses. As their website claims, it’s a “slam dunk”.

Apart from his efforts with Legal Zoom, Giannis Antetkounmpo is also heavily invested in philanthropic activities through his ‘Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation’. Having walked one of such fable tales, the Greek Freak wants to see more of the underserved make their marks on the world.