What does Giannis Antetokounmpo want to do when he retires?
The Greek Freak is well-known in the U.S. and amongst basketball fans, but once he’s done with the sport, he wants to go somewhere no one will know him.
Imagine walking by Giannis Antetokounmpo and not recognizing him or knowing who he is. It sounds crazy right now, considering he is one of the best players in the NBA and one of the most decorated in NBA history.
And yet, that is what Giannis would love to have, eventually, after he retires. His request was quite simple: “When I retire from this game, I want to disappear.”
Being as talented and famous as the Greek Freak is does come at a cost. Being recognized and swarmed everywhere you go is not a long-term desire for many people. And in Giannis’ case, he’d like to be like Tim Duncan.
“Where the hell is Tim Duncan? I don’t know where he is,” said Giannis. “I want to be like, ‘oh yes, Giannis, who remembers?’ … I want to play the game and then forget about me. Don’t talk about me.”
Well, he may be able to disappear, but he will never be forgotten. He’s in his 10th season now and of his many accomplishments, Giannis has one NBA championship, two MVP titles, and a Finals MVP award.
Of course, his sentiment is understandable, but it will be a shame not to see his antics anymore. In addition him being one of the most exciting players to watch, it’s always fun to see what he’s doing off the court as well. And that’s not “fun” in the trashy magazine, celebrity gossip kind of way. Giannis is one of the most down-to-earth players in the NBA, and is always caught on camera doing sweet things like walking around the streets of Greece, letting people hold his Finals trophy and meeting fans, literally giving a kid the jacket off his back, or dancing on the court for a kid’s birthday.
It will be sad when Giannis does finally retire and disappears out of the limelight, but when it does happen, we will always have these memories.
And these: