1:03pm: The Bucks have officially re-signed Antetokounmpo, the team announced today in a press release.
“Thanasis brings energy, effort and tenacity every minute of every game,” general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “He’s a valuable part of our team and we’re excited to have him remain in Milwaukee.”
7:55am: The Bucks and free agent forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo have agreed to a new two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
The older brother of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis has spent the last two seasons in Milwaukee and appeared in 57 games for the club in 2020/21, averaging 2.9 PPG and 2.2 RPG in 9.7 minutes per contest.
Prior to the 2019/20 season, the 6’6″ forward had played for a handful of international and G League teams and made a brief NBA cameo for the Knicks during the 2015/16 season, appearing in two games.
The terms of Antetokounmpo’s new deal aren’t known, but a minimum-salary pact seems likely.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter), prior to agreeing to a new contract with Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee had been carrying 12 players on guaranteed contracts and three with partial or non-guarantees (Georgios Kalaitzakis, Elijah Bryant, and Mamadi Diakite). It’s unclear if Antetokounmpo is receiving a full guarantee.
Can big bro actually play great or did Milwaukee throw him a bone for Giannis?
Bucks just want to make Giannis happy, so getting big bro on payroll helps
Almost certain 1 of the terms of Giannis re-upping on the max deal was the Bucks couldn’t trade big/little brother. I suspect this is an extension of that agreement.
On the flip side, the bond they have is immeasurable, but the team knows how valuable it is much better than we do. And from the dozen or so pre-game exchanges between the 2 I saw this past season, even I can tell it’s a big deal. And I think the entire team loves his energy
Low coat move to make his brother happy. He might even be worth the contract on it’s on.
whatever works
He’s a good defender, with size, and can put the ball on the floor and playmake, and decently rebound
…I should also add they were +3.3 with him on the floor this previous season
He’s just. 6.6 so he doesn’t have a lit if size. He’s the smallest of all the bros.
and playmaking isn’t one of his strong points. He’s a high energy defender, good at rebounding, mostly driving to the basket and not much of a shooting
Size at the 2 guard/3, and he is also super lengthy. He plays the 2/3/4, and averaged 5.3 and 4 assists per 100 possessions the last 2 years. He can put the ball on the floor from those positions is the main point. They have shooting around them, so that isnt something that necessarily matters for his role. He is good for certain matchups/situations.
He’s not a shooting guard, he can’t shoot. He played just 8% of him time there last year. Thanassis is a 3 and can play some small ball 4, he was always a 3. And while he was adequately sized for Europe he’s undersized in the NBA. His assists per 100 possessions rank him 11th in the bucks, I dont’t hink thats’s so good
He rebounding is much better because of his energy and athletisism, hes 6th in the bucks. I agree his good in certain matchups, he could play more quality minutes than he’s currently playing
Again…for his role…nobody is calling him a 2 way player that should play however many minutes in every matchup. Against a team like the Nets, or Phoenix, he makes sense against their guards.
He is anything but a good defender. He can’t defend without fouling. His energy is often mistaken for good defense.
Thanassis was productive in Euroleague and I bet he could put some numbers in the nba if he got Pat Connaughton’s time for example. But more importantly Giannis looks up to Thanassis a lot since they were kids and helps him a lot having him around
Fwiw, I thought older bro should have played more during the regular season, and there were moments I wished he played during the series with the Nets.
He’s not just a mascot. Not saying anything crazy, but he’s good value as the 10-11th man on the roster.
Death- the only issue I can see with giving him more minutes..and again I say this having seen maybe 20ish games last season..is his propensity to foul. I believe that cost him some opportunities for longer runs in some games. Like 2 fouls in 2 minutes kinda instances.
Best nba cheerleader in the league
Udonis Haslem disagrees.
Udonis Haslem probably doesn’t care.
Totally agree that UD doesn’t care at all about playing, he only wants his check, which makes him the best paid player in the league per minute, a whooping $1MM/per minute… UD cares for $$$ not minutes!
A guy that turned down 10s of millions of dollars multiple times only cares about money…
Money well spent
If the Knicks would of kept him, maybe they could of signed Giannis. Lol. Then again weren’t the Knicks the only team in the NBA, not to fly overseas to see Giannis play in Greece? Smh
This guy is out of control on the sidelines and on the floor. Plays reckless and too many fouls and plays with no brains. doubt he figures it out
It also lines up with the other little brothers contract in Greece.When his time is up playing there and is a free agent and can come back to the NBA. Then it will be Kostas turn to get paid and take Thanius place .
Gotta keep Giannis happy. That’s all that matters. You pay Thanasis even if he doesn’t see a minute on the court, which isn’t the case.
He’s good enough to be a player, minimum. Sure why not. Like everyone said. Gotta keep the MVP happy. Redick is still out there. Bucks should offer him a minimum.
I like the Redick possibilities or bring in possibly Dennis Smith Jr or Isiah Thomas ( scoring in second group). Talk is the Bucks are checking on Lance Stephenson. All in all think there is some of the young guys ready to maybe step in instead of looking at retreads. They will be the deciding factor on whether this team starts getting old real fast
I didnt know cheerleaders were paid so well, I suppose I chose the wrong career.
Such great detective work on this page.
That Thanasis guy has a surname similar to Giannis’… I wonder if they’re related… Bucks better scoop him up. Or he could be related to Thanos… so better stock up on golden jockstraps.