What does it take to stay afloat in the NBA when the competition is relentless and the margin for error is razor thin? That was the very dilemma running through Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother, Thanasis’s, mind when he found himself face-to-face with one of the league’s most seasoned scorers—Carmelo Anthony. At that point, Melo had already built a name that echoed across NBA arenas. Eight seasons in Denver, four more in New York, and nearly 20,000 points to his name—his reputation needed no introduction.

Now picture this: Thanasis, freshly drafted by the Knicks as the 51st overall pick, unsure of where he stood in this high-stakes world. So, instead of jumping into the main roster, he began his journey with the Westchester Knicks, New York’s G League affiliate. It was there, during this formative stretch, that he crossed paths with Carmelo Anthony—a stroke of luck that would quietly shape his perspective.

“I remember… I just got drafted… And Melo, Sasha Vujacic… Just took me, you know, under the wing. They would, like, you know, take me out. I didn’t know anybody,” Thanasis shared in a recent episode of his podcast.

And in a moment where doubt clouded his early NBA days, Thanasis had just one burning question: how do you make it in a league where being average simply isn’t enough? Melo’s response wasn’t complicated, but it stuck. “‘Just from demeanor. Just from demeanor. Only you will be above average…’ And then he would tell me even more stories… About how guys are so competitive… And he stick with me,” Antetokounmpo recalled on The Thanalysis Show.

Clearly, that guidance lit a fire. Thanasis didn’t just hang around—he delivered. He put up 13.9 points, grabbed 6.2 rebounds, and blocked 1.7 shots per game in his first season with the Westchester Knicks. The ex-NBA star even earned a spot on the 2015 NBA D-League All-Defensive Second Team. But once he stepped onto the NBA hardwood, the reality was different.

With the New York Knicks, he barely clocked 3 minutes across just 2 games in the 2016 season before taking his talents back overseas. However, after playing two years in the Greek League, he found his way back to the NBA, this time with the Milwaukee Bucks. But the numbers dipped—just 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds over five seasons. The absence of a veteran guide like Carmelo Anthony was felt.

However, this decline does not take away the help that came from Anthony during Thanasis’ initial time with the Knicks. In fact, there is a particular instance where Melo saved the ex-Milwaukee star from a gruesome training schedule during his time with the Westchester Knicks.

The time when Carmelo Anthony saved Thanasis from a “trap”

For any rookie hoping to earn their stripes in the NBA, shooting well often feels like the golden ticket to staying on the court with the big names. Thanasis Antetokounmpo once thought the same—until he realized his so-called tough training might have been more about control than growth. And as he shared it on an episode of Above The Rim with DH12, it took a seasoned star like Carmelo Anthony to call it out.

While speaking on the show, Thanasis looked back on his early days in the league. One story in particular stood out: a coach who punished every missed shot with a round of pushups. Thanasis didn’t name names, but the experience clearly left a mark.

“Every time this happens, I’m doing from 10 to 20, from 20 to 30. I’m going like up in the push-ups. So it’s basically a trap. He’s just doing it just to do it,” the x-Bucks star shared, painting a picture of a cycle that seemed less about discipline and more about exerting power.

Luckily, Carmelo Anthony happened to walk in. The 10x All-Star, fresh off a blockbuster move to the Knicks, saw what was happening and didn’t stay quiet. Melo questioned the logic—why penalize a rookie for missing shots when that’s part of learning the game? For Thanasis, that moment wasn’t just a rescue—it was a reminder that leadership in the league isn’t just about points on the board, but also about standing up when something doesn’t sit right. No wonder he remembers all of Carmelo Anthony’s as it is.