Rise 2022

In 1990, Charles and Veronica “Vera” Antetokounmpo, Yetide Badaki, are forced to leave their eldest son Francis in Nigeria while they travel to Greece for a better life. They are unable to get visas due to the political climate and thus have no identification, forcing them to hide. As the family grows over the years, the challenges of immigration, citizenship, and identity compound their daily struggle.

By 2004, the couple are settled with four more sons — Thanasis, Giannis, Kostas, and Alexandros. Thanasis Antetokounmpo, McColm Cephas Jr., and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Uche Agada, begin playing basketball in the park and gradually discover a shared gift for the game. Their talents draw the attention of a coach, Takis Zivas, who invites them to Filathlitikos to use the gym for free, believing that the brothers have real potential worth nurturing. The path is not easy, but the seeds of a future in basketball are planted.

As the years pass, Thanasis continues to shine, and Giannis makes steady progress. By 2007, Thanasis is a rising star, while Giannis is steadily improving, though their family’s legal limbo casts a long shadow over every opportunity. A college team offers Thanasis a chance, but the offer is pulled back when his family history is scrutinized. The family’s precarious situation leaves them at risk of eviction and unemployment, even as Charles manages to buy a car for the family.

On the court, the brothers catch the eye of scouts during a game. They are approached by Haris Eleftheriou, who believes in their potential and pushes for recruitment, while a manager named Paco tries to steer the brothers toward a quick payoff with money, citizenship, and instant acceptance. Haris refuses to abandon them, and the tension between offers and integrity tests the family’s resolve. The prospect of a Spanish team surfaces, offering eligibility for Giannis but requiring broader recognition for the family; a deal with Paco would have guaranteed citizenship and swift relocation, but the Antetokounmpos stand firm in their choice to remain together and pursue a more legitimate path.

Haris later reveals that the Spanish option would grant Giannis the chance to try out for the 2013 NBA Draft, with the promise that if he succeeds, the entire family could relocate to America. Giannis asks Thanasis to come along, and the brothers travel to New York City to meet with American agent Kevin Stefanides, Manish Dayal. Haris and Kevin press the case with recruiters, and they manage to catch the attention of John Hammond, Taylor Nichols, who appears hesitant yet receptive, as a representative from Nike also shows interest.

Facing the pressure of expectation and the fear of failure, Giannis humbly leans on his brother’s support. Thanasis stands by him as they navigate a landscape of doubt and opportunity. The journey culminates in the NBA Draft, where Giannis is chosen as the Milwaukee Bucks’ fifteenth pick, signaling a hopeful future for the family and securing a path to life in America for the Antetokounmpo clan.