Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo at the White House: «From the Sequins to the Oval Office»

The brothers Antetokounmpo -Giannis and Thanasis- were with the NBA champions, Milwaukee Bucks, at the White House, as part of the US President's customary meeting with the champions of the top basketball league. A visit that had been frozen for five years due to the presence in the Oval Office of the Donald Trump and the refusal of the teams to meet with him.

On the evening of Monday 8 November, the Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis and the Milwaukee Bucks were honored by the President of the United States.

The Antetokounbros feeling presidential at the @WhiteHouse. pic.twitter.com/2EUoxltBbC

- Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 8, 2021

From Sepolia...

The official account of the NBA, uploaded a video in which Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks and the caption mentions his journey from the Sepolia all the way to the White House!

“From Sepolia to The Oval Office.”@Giannis_An34 and the 2021 Champion @Bucks arrive to The @WhiteHouse. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/fZ05Ao0WVv

- NBA (@NBA) November 8, 2021

Antetokounmpo: «It's great...»

Yannis says in the video, «It's great, it's really great! From Sepolia to the Oval Office to meet the President of the United States. I'm grateful for this opportunity, it's an example of how with hard work you can achieve things in life. This is a wonderful gift, the fact that we are in the White House, meeting the President of the United States.’.

Iconic 🤳 pic.twitter.com/OZ48HwJoCi

- Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 8, 2021

Biden praised Antetokounmpo!

In fact, during his speech, US President Joe Biden paid tribute to the Greek superstar, talking about his talent, his siblings, his mother and his father who looks down on him from up there, as he said. «It's an honor to host the 2020-21 NBA champions, the Milwaukee Bucks. Congratulations to everyone for winning the title, the players, the staff, the fans. You were down in the Finals with two losses, but you never stopped believing and fighting,» Biden said initially.

And he added, addressing Antetokounmpo: «Giannis, you scored 50 points in Game 6. Fifty! The worst part is I remember both Milwaukee Bucks championships decades ago (laughs). Now you're starting! What makes it even more special is that you're here with your brother. They are children of a family of immigrants from Nigeria, who went to Greece. That's great. I know your mother is so proud to look at you, as is your father from up there.. You are a great family. And your other brother's got a championship ring. I think you won a gene contest (laughs).

It is a great honor to welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to the White House today. Congratulations to everyone, I wish them all the best for this season. Good luck. It's a great pleasure and honor to have you here today.».

Antetokounmpo was moved by Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo represented his teammates and after thanking Joe Biden for his kind words he said: «It's a great thing. Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the players, the staff and the organization, we are grateful for this opportunity. A child from Sepolia, Athens, raised by Nigerian parents who fought to give us everything. It is a great pleasure and honour to be in the White House, to meet the President of the United States.

I want to thank our families, who are obviously a big part of who we are, they make sacrifices too. They're not with us today, but we always carry them in our hearts. I want to thank the Bucks fans, they're the best in the world. They've always supported us, even when we were the worst team in the NBA. We couldn't have done it without them.

For everyone out there, this is a perfect example of how with hard work, sacrifice and dedication, without giving up, by striving to be good and having dreams, you can achieve great things in your life. That's what I've been doing all my life and now I'm in the White House. Without the hard work, none of this would have been possible.».