The Greek big man stepped up at various points in the campaign, particularly in the postseason
Tribute to the Champs: Kostas Antetokounmpo
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Kostas Antetokounmpo is a distinguished member of a well-known basketball family. His brother Giannis is a global superstar, having become a two-time NBA MVP and an NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks. Thanasis Antetekounmpo also won the NBA crown with Milwaukee and played for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the past. There is a fourth Antetokounmpo brother, Alex, that also plays professional basketball.
Kostas started his career with local Athens squad Filathlitikos and went on to play high school and college basketball in the United States. He played for the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, which he helped win the NBA title in 2020, in addition to the Texas Legends, South Bay Lakers and Windy City Bulls in the G League. In Europe, Kostas suited up for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul before heading to Panathinaikos last summer. Greens head coach Ergin Ataman recruited him to become a defensive pillar, and Antetokounmpo definitely delivered.
Antetokounmpo led the 2023-24 EuroLeague in blocks per 40 minutes (3.9). His outstanding defense kept him in the rotation, as Antetokounmpo saw playing time in the entire playoffs and then the Final Four. He provided a top-class Final Four highlight, too, swatting Scottie Wilbekin's shot out of bounds in the semifinal against Fenerbahce. His brother Giannis was courtside throughout the Final Four, capturing every moment with his cell phone and celebrating with Kostas at the end of the game. As both Giannis and Kostas said, the job was done. Panathinaikos won the title, and Kostas Antetokounmpo can call himself a EuroLeague champion!