The countdown for the Paris Olympics basketball tournament has begun. Some of the world’s biggest NBA icons will battle for their patriotic pride. Greece, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, staged an inspiring qualifying run to make it to the competition. The Hellas will be back for the first time since 2008 in Beijing, and most importantly, it will be the Greek Freak’s debut on the monumental stage.

Likewise, one can expect new colorways of the Zoom Freaks that adapt to Greece’s tough grit and iron spirit. However, not all of his teammates are as fortunate as Antetokounmpo to have million-dollar deals and signature shoes. His national teammate Kostas Papanikolaou used it against the two-time MVP. “If you send me to the Olympic games with those shoes (points to his own shoes). Worn out. Shame on you,” he jokingly told Giannis Antetokounmpo. “I got you,” was all the Greek Freak said.

As expected, in the very next practice session, the Olympiacos captain had on a fresh pair of Zoom Freak 5, a former iteration of his signature shoe on his feet. But by his words, it doesn’t seem Giannis Antetokounmpo is done with surprises just yet. “No, no, it’s very good. But don’t worry. Because I know you going to say something. But don’t worry, it’s coming. Put this clip and add it to the next clip. It’s coming. Okay, remember, stay tuned,” he said with a smirk on his face, looking into the camera.

This meant the 2021 NBA champion really had a surprise ready for all of his teammates. Since the initial release of his signature shoe, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been distributing free pairs to his Bucks teammates and the entire staff every single season. While he maintained the same tradition in 2023, it is right about time this year as well!

Given Greece will return to the Olympics for the first time in 16 years and it is his debut, Giannis’ generosity extended to his compatriots too. And from suspicions of Papanikolaou objecting, it meant the surprise was the newest edition of his signature line!

Giannis Antetokounmpo unveils the Zoom Freak 6

For the first time, Giannis Antetokounmpo took the court with the latest of his creations with Nike. In Greece’s exhibition game against Nikola Jokic and Serbia, the Greek Freak debuted the Zoom Freak 6. He chose to opt for the ‘Roses’ colorway with the pattern of red roses being the standout feature of the shoe. The launch version of the Zoom Freak 6 is meant to be a laser orange colorway scheduled to hit the sneaker markets in October.

However, Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t mind bending the rules for his teammates. The debut of his new shoe in the loss to Serbia indicated that the Freak would have a pair for each of his Greece teammates joining him in Paris. And that was exactly what he had in mind! The Greek Freak posted a follow-up video of him towing a cart full of the new ‘Roses’ Freak 6 sneaker for each of his teammates and the national team staff.

The first person to get the sneaker was unsurprisingly the man who may have driven Giannis Antetokounmpo into the gesture, Kostas Papanikolaou. And the rest of the team followed. “You want to be like me. You want to be like Giannis!” the Greek Freak said while he distributed sneakers to the entire team.

If the sneaker does harness such power from his Greek teammates, every team in Paris is heading towards major trouble.