BURBANK, CA —— The true to life story of two-time MVP and NBA Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo along with his brothers Kostas, Alex, Thanasis and their parents Charles and Veronica incredible tenacity of survival from Nigeria. The story follows the parents as they escape deportation in Turkey and manage to cross the border into Greece. While the parents and older brother Thanasis settle into Greece, Veronica is pregnant and travels to the hospital via bus to deliver Giannis.
Charles and Veronica faced a huge dilemma, as they couldn’t get legal residency without a job, yet nobody would hire them for a legal job without country residency. Throughout the trials and tribulations, both Giannis and Thanasis discover the game of basketball, and learned the game over the course of years. Over time Thanasis emerged as the better basketball player and encouraged Giannis to keep playing and not give up. A very touching moment in the film as the family struggled financially, and were unable to purchase shoes for both sons, they could only afford one good pair. As they took turns on the court, Thanasis gave Giannis his shoes to play in while he watched in socks.
Charles always instilled the importance of family, togetherness and how when one scores the whole team scores.
Thanasis gets an opportunity to play for a top notch basketball club — that also entailed a paycheck that would have helped his family tremendously. Unfortunately they find out that the offer had been rescinded due to their immigration status in Greece. They go back to square one, including showcasing the family dealing with Thanasis severe ankle injury, which fuels Giannis to play better and understand the position better.
As an inexperienced basketball agent stumbled across Giannis and Thanasis’ talent, with Giannis remaining healthy and improving his game, eventually a Spanish team would desire his services. Later in the film, Giannis’ agent thinks a step ahead and applies Giannis for the upcoming NBA Draft with one condition stipulated in his contract. If he is drafted, then he would not have to play for the Spanish team and the Antetokounmpo family would be allowed to come the United States with visas in hand. If Giannis failed to be selected, he would have to suit up for the Spanish team and be without his family while the threat of exposing their immigration status hung over their heads.
While the family waits in suspense on NBA Draft night, several teams including the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia Sixers pass up on Giannis. He and the family continue to believe and his name is called by the Milwaukee Bucks, and their lives change forever for the better.
A very uplifting film that showcases belief in self, determination, sacrifice and unity. While speaking with the cast members and members of the Antetokounmpo family, on how important this story is to our society. Disney approached Giannis and his agent approximately four years ago regarding this story. As one of the executive producers, Giannis made sure the movie was filmed on location in Greece as well as the United States to showcase the authenticity of the film.
Newcomers Uche Agada and Ral Agada— are biological brothers who portray young Giannis and Thanasis, Jaden Osimuwa and Elijah Sholanke portraying the other two brothers, Kostas and Alex. Dayo Okeniyi and Yetide Badaki portray Charles and Veronica, with Manish Dayal as Giannis’ tenacious agent, Kevin Stefanides, and Taylor Nichols as John Hammond, general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks. The film was directed by writer Akin Omotoso and debuted on June 24 exclusively on Disney Plus.
