“Giannis Antetokounmpo Pulled Shoes Out of Garbage”: $70 Million Worth Bucks Star Had Insanely Humble Beginnings

Like any other sport, there are a lot of heart-touching stories about NBA players achieving success coming out of nothing, but Giannis Antetokounmpo probably has the best fairy tale of all.

The Greek Freak went from selling watches and DVDs in the street of Athens to a legit NBA star within years, but even after making it to the top basketball league of the world, he never forgot where he came from.

Also read: Amidst 3-8 Slide, Damian Lillard Picks Giannis Antetokounmpo As His Dream Teammate On The Blazers

Giannis Antetokounmpo wore Caron Butler’s used shoes

Giannis Antetokounmpo made it to the NBA in 2013, at 19 years of age, selected as the 15th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks. But he did not spend his money like it was all new to him.

The Former Warriors big man, who was in Milwaukee at the time, revealed a story at the time which showed how in a new city, entirely different food, and all the lavish players around him, nothing could make Giannis spend money like a young soon-to-be millionaire.

“He saw a half of the money was going to taxes. He ask me, is there any way he doesn’t pay taxes?” said Zaza Pachulia told Amos Barshad of the Grantland.

Brandon Knight then told when he saw Antetokounmpo taking free food home from the players’ lounge: “You’d see him with like six or seven boxes, trying to save money — cakes, drinks, all types of stuff.”

“He pulled the shoes out of the garbage like, ‘What are you doing? These good shoes!’” Caron Butler told how the future 2x MVP would stop him from throwing used-up shoes in the garbage.

Despite earning tens & hundreds of Millions, Giannis is still a simple man

9 years, 2 MVPs, a championship, and Finals MVP later, he might have become a multi-millionaire and a superstar in one of the greatest sports on the planet, but he never forgets he worked throughout his childhood with his older brother Thanasis, to help his parents.

Neither his father nor his mother had stable jobs but they had bills to pay while raising 3 other Antetokounmpos. That required Giannis to help contribute at home from a very young age.

It wasn’t until he was 13 that he found out that he could play basketball, and the rest, as we all know, is history for the $70 million worth Greek international.

With his 5-year, $228,200,420 contract, the 7-footer is the third-highest player in the league, but still, nothing beats milk-dipped Oreos for the humble giant. He is special in every way possible.

Also read: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Since ‘The Ladder Incident’, has averaged 36 and Tied 7’2″ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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