With FIBA EuroBasket 2022 getting underway, many eyes will be on Greece’s National Team, which features not one, not two, but three Antetokounmpo brothers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the headliner, but he will be joined by his older brother, Thanasis, and younger brother, Kostas, who won an NBA title with the Lakers in 2020 and spent the past season with ASVEL Basket of France’s LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague.
When watching the trio, you might notice that the surname on the jerseys of Giannis and Thanasis is spelled differently than the spelling on Kostas’ jersey, but it isn’t a typo.
Why do the brothers have different names on their jerseys? Here is an explanation on the origin and spelling of the family name.
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Adetokunbo name spelling, explained: Why Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother has different surname on EuroBasket jersey
Kostas’ choice is a tribute to the family’s Nigerian heritage as the original spelling of the name is Adetokunbo, a surname of Yoruba origin that means “the crown has returned from across the seas.”
Born in Greece to Nigerian parents, each of the brothers first carried the original spelling of the Adetokunbo name, which was later changed to Antetokounmpo when they received their Greek passports.
In the Greek alphabet, the letters “NT” make a “D” sound while “MP” make a “B” sound, meaning the spelling of “Antetokounmpo” carries a pronunciation that closely comes out to “Adetokunbo.”
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In a 2019 interview with Andscape, Giannis spoke at length about his Nigerian roots, including the culture instilled by his parents. Within the interview, Antetokounmpo explained his decision to receive a Nigerian passport in 2015 to become a dual citizen.
It’s important. It’s part of who I am. Both of my parents are Nigerian. They wanted me to get it. I wanted to have it, so I got it.
With Kostas carrying the original spelling while Giannis and Thanasis carry the newer spelling, their Nigerian heritage and Greek upbringing will be on full display as Greece looks to take home the EuroBasket crown in 2022.
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