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Milwaukee Bucks of America star, Giannis Adetokunbo (Antetokounmpo) is once again in this news, but this time it is because of his younger brother, Alex, who has been cited among a special class of new raw basketball talents, megasportsarena.com reports.
New class of prospective stars have been dubbed those who did not rely on America’s famed collegiate sports programme to cut their teeth in the search for stardom, but the Nigerian-born lad and a couple of others came through national team ranks.
This is the focus of a special survey by Michelle Steel of Milwaukee Sporting Journal, who noted that the youngest of the Antetokounmpo brothers is already showing stuff that could make him as great as ‘The Greek Freak,’ who is reigning back-to-back most valuable player in the NBA.
The survey added in part: In most countries, the development of young players is not tied to the educational system. Pro teams have their own youth teams and academies.
Alex Antetokounmpo has seen the whole spectrum while growing up in Greece, where his older brothers, Thanasis and Giannis became attached to pro teams as teenagers.
The family moved to the United States after Giannis was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, so youngest brothers Kostas and Alex became part of the U.S. amateur system while playing at Dominican.
Alex Antetokounmpo, who now plays for Toronto Raptors’ G League team, earlier joined Spain’s Pro Basketball League after playing at Whitefish Bay Dominican.
Kostas spent two years in college at Dayton, including a redshirt season, to mixed success before turning pro. He won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and now plays in France.
Alex is now a star in the G League Ignite, which only takes a handful of top high school prospects – Foster is one of five this year – but now Overtime Elite offers a pro league in which young U.S. players can stay home.
Top recruits are still electing to play in the NCAA, which gives them more TV exposure and puts them in front of much larger crowds than the G League or Overtime Elite. College players also can profit off their name, image and likeness for the first time this season.
Alex Antetokounmpo, who decided to skip college to join UCAM Murcia in Liga ACB, the top league in Spain, said: “I’m never the type to shut any type of opportunity down.
“If that was a factor or a thing that was going on back then I definitely would have taken it into consideration and seen how it could benefit me, see how it could help the situation.
“I would have sat down and looked, analyzed it. It’s a great opportunity for young guys to be just able to have more options, to be able to go to somewhere to truly finish their game.
“I definitely believe not everybody is made for like the traditional college route. Also, not everybody is made to go overseas.
“It’s some kids that need to be nurtured and monitored and just be able to play for their hometown or stay closer to their family. And some kids that need to get away from that.
“There’s some kids that need to make a financial impact in their household right now and some kids that would rather take the development route and go get a degree.
“Having as much options as possible is going to be the best possible avenue for up and coming kids playing basketball.”
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