The Antetokounmpo family doesn’t play when it comes to their own.
Nike has been a long supporter of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family since the very beginning of his career in 2013, and it’s also what encouraged the NBA superstar to pass on another endorsement deal with one of the athletic apparel company’s competitors.
According to Bleacher Report, during an appearance on the “Thanalysis Show,” Antetokounmpo recalled the moment he decided to walk away from a deal at Adidas because he was in a position where he needed to help support his family.
After an initial offer featuring a deal for both Giannis and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Adidas backtracked on the plan, prompting Giannis to turn down the proposal.
“[An Adidas representative] brought the contract and put it in front of me, and I’m like, ‘Okay great, where is my brother’s?’” Antetokounmpo explained, per Bleacher Report. “And he was like, ‘We’re not going to sign your brother’s today. You’re going to sign yours, and then we’re going to bring your brother in a week to sign his.’ And I was like, ‘Uh uh, no thank you.’”
Antetokounmpo says that at the time his family was facing hard times and he was prepared to take on just about any deal just as long as his brother, who is also a breakout star in the league, could benefit from his own partnership too.
“At the end of the day, if he had put in front of us some toilet paper and some cash next to it, we probably would’ve signed it because he knew we were in need,” the Milwaukee Bucks player explained. “At the time we weren’t able to take care of our family in the best way. He knew that, he knew our story… I think maybe the people who work above him tried to take advantage.”
Ultimately, after meeting with a Nike representative who offered a deal to his brother without hesitation, Antetokounmpo landed a brand deal with the company that will remain in tact for the rest of his playing days.
“It was my turn to speak, and I said that it’s important for me for it to be a family thing,” he recalled. “When you take me, you take my family, my brother, my mom. And [the Nike representative], she was like, ‘Yeah, sure, whatever.’ After that, we’ve been with Nike, and she’s been by our side ever since.”
Today, Antetokounmpo has released five signature shoes with Nike, and during his tenure with the company he has added a NBA Championship under his belt as well as a pair of MVPs.
As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the Antetokounmpo family has always been on a mission to achieve success as a unit. Their company, Ante Inc., has a global portfolio, which includes sports teams, businesses, brand holdings, investment assets, and organizations for social impact.
