Translation of an interview Giannis gave yesterday to a Greek TV show:

About Kostas and Alex

"They’re both improving. Kostas worked hard over the summer and took things seriously. We had a bit of a disappointing year, since he couldn’t play for Dayton. Kostas has no ceiling. Alex is also watching us and is taking this seriously. They’re more nervous of saying the name [Antetokounmpo] than carrying it. They’re not nervous, they’re enjoying it. They’ll take the necessary steps [to improve]".

Regarding his second name, "Ugo"

"Yeah, they call me Ugo. Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo, it’s on my ID. Kamperidis and my teammates call me that. Ekpe Udoh used to call me that as well. Ugo is a rare bird in Nigeria."

Why did he choose No. 34?

"I chose 34 because my mother was born in 1964 and my father was born in 1963. So I took the 3 and the 4."

Regarding Greece

"The people can see that we’re always representing Greece. Both Thanasis in Spain, and myself in the USA. We grew up here, we went to school here. Greece will always follow us and we’ll carry on representing it."

Why he didn’t sign on the Greek flag.

"That’s something that Thanasis talked to me about. We were in last year’s "Antetokounbros" event and people asked for [us to do] it. Thanasis told me that we can’t do it, that’s why I said "no" in New York. We honor the flag."

About the hard work he’s putting in.

"All I’m thinking about is that hard work pays off. I know what myself, my coach and Thanasis did in private. We focused on getting better last summer. After every game that we don’t play well, either as a team or me as a person, I go and put up shots. The court helps me calm down. I’m competitive, and if I go home, I won’t be able to stop thinking about the game. I might snap at Alex or my girlfriend or stay up until 5am, even though we might have practice at 8am.

About the Warriors game where he had 9 points.

"Draymond Green didn’t hold me to 9 points. I held myself. I was trying to help my teammates get in rhythm. I knew that I could find my rhythm whenever I felt like it, but I didn’t try. It wasn’t Green, everyone was guarding me. I was being guarded by three players."

About some Warriors’ fans wanting Giannis on their team.

"I don’t know if I’d join them. They have Durant, Curry, Green, Thomson. It’s flattering, but they’re a superteam."

About Thanasis’ first year in Spain.

"I’m very proud of Thanasis, he took a step on his one. He decided to join Andorra and I thought that it’d do him good. The games in Spain helped him. It’s a different thing playing on the NBA D-League and a whole other thing playing against Real Madrid in the Playoffs. The most important thing is that became a better player. He had a tremendous year and that’s good for him."

If he ever thought about what would’ve happened had he gone to Saragossa in Spain.

"Nothing would’ve changed. I was given a chance to get to the NBA early, but nothing would change in my character. I know how I am as a person and how much work I put in daily to get better."

Would he play the same in Europe where Basketball is played differently?

"Why not? Maybe some teams play at a slower pace. Other teams, such as Andorra, play faster. I’d join a team in which I’d fit better. I don’t think that if I leave the NBA and come to Europe I’ll be less of a problem. I think that I’ll be an even bigger problem. When I played with Udoh, he wasn’t playing for the team. He came to Europe and he’s the [Euroleague] MVP. I still think that I’d be a problem, but I understand that basketball is different in Europe; you have to be able to shoot."

About free throws.

"I couldn’t make them in the Playoffs either…"

About his shooting.

"I don’t even think about it. I’m a born shooter. I work on it every day. Yesterday, I left the court at 11:30pm. I went to the Zografou court at 9:00am and made 300 shots. I went about to do some errants, came back, and made 300 more. I’m not mad about it. Even if I were a shooter, I’d still be doing the same things. Even if I make five shots, tell me, what will Green give me? I make 5 out of 5. What will he do next? He’ll still give me the shot. Nothing will change."

About All-Star voting.

"I didn’t vote for myself. I didn’t make a single post."

About his NBA record [top 20 in all major statistics], his entry to an exclusive club [leading teams in all major statistical categories] and what made him the happiest this season.

"The day that we clinched a Playoff spot. When he came back from Philadelphia. It was that night. We were really tight in the Eastern Conference. When we got in the Playoffs, I breathed easier. All the stress was gone and after that we wanted to play in the Playoffs."

Is he nervous when watching Thanasis play?

"When I watch Thanasis play, I get very anxious, since it’s not up to me to play."

About the triumph of 1987 [Golden Medal for Greece in the European Championship] and if he met any of the members of the Greek National Team.

"I’ve met coach Giannakis, [Panagiotis] Fasoulas…"

Has he ever met Nikos Gallis and what does he think of his including in the Hall of Fame.

"I haven’t met Gallis up-close, no. It’s a great honor for him to get in the Hall of Fame without having played in the NBA."

About his personal goals.

"I was asked a while ago, where I want to be in 5-6 years. I told them what Giannakis said. I want to be a mature player, a leader who will make his teammates better. I want to have 12-15 players behind me, soldiers, who will follow every step of mine. I know that I’ll keep improving as a player. I want to improve as a teammate. Not just for the National team, but in the NBA as well.

What does he do as a leader during games?

"I try to be low-key. Sometimes it’s hard to go to Jason Terry who’s 39 years old and tell him: "Do this." But they have to know that you’re there. For example, before a game, I know who’s been struggling recently. I tell that person that I need them. That lifts their spirit. They’re like, "oh, I have to play better now.""

Regarding the team’s veterans.

"Even the veteran players of our team were listening to me even more by the end of the season. There need to be vocal players and leaders. They accepted who these people are and whom they have to follow. Coach Kidd would call me and tell me that he’ll teach me how to be a leader. In the NBA, the coach will call you or you’ll call him. I did that often. Kidd is amazing. He knows how you feel, he gets it. He’s played in the league and you have to respect that. If he says something to you, it’s easier to accept it."

About their one-on-one games.

"We played often. We never bet on them."

Regarding Luka Doncic.

"I saw him play up-close. I compare players to my brothers, since they’re younger. He’s a good shooter, he can read the game very well, he’s a good dribbler, his body is ready; he’s a grown man. What can he improve? How much further can he do? That’s what I’m thinking about."

About his own ceiling.

"I believe that I can get better. I haven’t reached my ceiling yet. I’m not just saying that for the sake of it. I can become a better shooter, I can dribble better, I can build my body and my legs, I can make better reads, as I grow older and mature. I still haven’t reached my ceiling."

About anything weird/extraordinary he’s done in practice.

"In my second year in the NBA, I missed a shot, the person who was guarding me pushed me and I slid down the floor, but I got the ball back. I got up, went for the dunk and made it."

About his buzzer-beater against the Knicks.

"It’s every player’s dream. We were talking about it a week before the game. I’d missed a shot against Dallas, and they were telling me that I’ll play for so many years and will be in so many similar situations, that I’ll get some to fall. A week later, I made it."

About the Bucks’ personnel that’s escorting him.

I train with Sweeney. The other guy will help us with the "Antetokounbros" event and social media.

About his girlfriend.

I don’t know her. I’m kidding, it’s still early… Let’s get back to basketball."

Does he feel better with a block or a dunk?

"It depends on the situation, what matters more. If the game is close or tied, I’ll get more pumped up by a block."

About the first game of the Greek Championship Finals.

"It was a good game. Like Vaggelis said, Olympiacos won, but they could’ve played better. Panathinaikos was focused, they could have won."

Which team does he support in Greece?

"Filathlitikos."

About people enjoying the "Antetokounbros" event.

"That was the goal, to make people happy. We did it. We’re happy about it and we’ll continue to do it."

About playing with their friends in last year’s "Antetokounbros" event.

"That’s how things started, so that’s why we did it. In Sepolia, we got all our friends involved."

About who will participate this year.

"It’s a surprise. It’ll be great. You have to be there. If the NBA Finals finish early, we’ll even ask… Lebron!"

Would he join the Cavaliers or the Warriors for 15 days?

"I’d join the Cavs, to get to experience Lebron. To see what he does, to learn as much as I can from him. My goal is to become a player that’s as much as possible like Lebron. It’s like going to school, getting to watch him play."

Does he feel that NBA players feel competitive against him?

"They’re my opponents, I don’t think they’re comfortable playing against me. I don’t make them feel comfortable. In the All-Star Game, everyone accepted me. During my first year, they didn’t take me seriously, but we were competitive. Later on, there may be players who might fear me a little in the league. I get on the court hungry to beat them."

About his favorite opponent.

"Beverley. He’s a great guy, but you can’t stand him on the court."

About this year’s MVP.

"For me, it’s Westbrook."

How much does he resemble Thanasis?

"Thanasis is more sociable, much calmer. I’m calm on the court, but as a person, not so much."

Did he feel pressure from the 100 million dollar contract?

"Not at all. I know that I have my family behind me. They’re always taking care of me and make sure that I stay humble and down-to-earth. I didn’t feel pressure, nothing changed. I just have financial security for myself and my family now. I know that I can take care of them for good."

About his body.

"I don’t know if my body has changed. Can you tell? That’s what happens when you grow up. My body is growing up as well. I’m 22 years old, and as I get older, my body gets bigger. I think that I have 4% body fat, which is like nothing.

Is he looking forward to the "Antetokounbros" event?

"I can’t wait to play, to have fun with people. I don’t know what’s gonna happen, how many people will attend. That will be the surprise to us."

About the National Team this summer.

"Personally, I want to focus on each day, to do the best I can. If I’m healthy and everything is well, I’ll be ready. I’ll do my best to be ready at the time."

About his desire to win a medal with the National Team.

"Winning a medal is for an entire nation, for all Greeks. We all get it, we’re all happy. [Do you remember] What happened in 2004?

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