Drafting Giannis: 8 years since 'Greek Freak' signed with Milwaukee Bucks
The 18-year-old would change the team's fortunes and also those of his new city.
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Updated: 6:12 PM CDT Jun 28, 2021
Drafting Giannis: 8 years since 'Greek Freak' signed with Milwaukee Bucks
The 18-year-old would change the team's fortunes and also those of his new city.
Share
Updated: 6:12 PM CDT Jun 28, 2021
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>> THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS SELECT GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO KENT: IT WAS THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT STARTED IT L.AL OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS, THE BUCKS SELECTION OF A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN GREEK TEENAGER IN THE 2013 DRAFT, WOULD PROVE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THE TEAM D ANHAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HIS NEW CITY. >> IT’S HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS EXACTLY WHAT THIS MEANS FOR .US KENT: THE CEO OF VISIT MILWAUKEE SAYS IT’S RDHA TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF HAVING AN INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR ON THE HOMETOWN TM.EA >> IT’S JUST AMAZING HOW IT’S OPENED US UP, TO NOT JUST NATIONAL MEDIA, BUT INTERNATIONAL DIA MEAS WL.EL KENT: THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE GLOBE WHO ARE WATCHING THE BUCKS BECAUSE OF GIANN.IS >> THEY’RE WATCHING THE BUCKS, AND THEY’RE ALSO SEEING MILWAUKEE, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. KENT: THE GIANNIS NAME SELLS TICKETS, AND MERCHANDISE. >> WELL YOU KNOW I GOT ABO 7UT JERSEYS, SO HE’S PRETTY MUCH DHA AN IMPACT ON THAT. KENT: AND HIS STAR POWER ATTRACTS FANS EVERYWHE.RE >> WE TUNE IT TO SEE GIANNIS. HE’S JUST A JOY TO WATCH. AND I LISTEN TO HIM, AND I LOVE THE WAY HE INTERVIEWS. KENT: BUT PERHAPS NOWHERE IS GIANNIS MORE POPULAR THAN WIINTH MILWAUKEE’S GREEK COMMUNITY. >> EVERY SINGLE GREEK IS INTERESTED IN WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS AND WITH GIANNIS. SO, IT’S FANTASTIC. KENT: HELPING TO SHINE A GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT ON MILWAUKEE. >> WE ACTUALLY HAD A FAMILY ATTH POSTED, 4AM THEY WERE WATCNGHI THE BUCKS GAME ’CAUSE THEY’RE IN GREECE RIGHT NOW. FROM GREECE THEY’RE WATCHING THE BUCKS GAME JOYCE: KENT, VISIT MILWAEEUK SAYS IT’S HARD TO PUT GIANNIS’ IMPACT INTO WORDS. CAN IT BE PUT INTO DOLLARS AND CES?NT KENT: SOME HAVE TRIED. WHEN GIANNIS SIGNED HIS 200-PLUS MILLIODON LLAR CONTRACT STLA YEAR, SOME BUSINESS LEADERS SUGGESTED THE BENEFIT TOHE T CITY WOULD BE GREATER THAN THAT. AND VISIMIT LWAUKEE ESTIMATED THAT EACH BUCKS PLAYOFF GAMEAN C GENERATE AUTBO THREE MILLION DOLLARS OUTSIDE OF THE ARENA. BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. IF GIANNIS AND THE BUCKS WERE TO WIN THE CHAMPIONIPSH THIS YEAR, THAT NUMBER IS ONLY LIKE