By Matthew Baxter-PriestFBTWPIN
Greatness is hindered by goodness. Good is satisfactory. Most of us aspire to achieve goodness. However, it is only by striving to surpass mediocrity and excellence that we can approach greatness.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a somebody who consistently strives for excellence and does not accept mediocrity. Giannis Antetokounmpo is highly motivated to achieve greatness. “I will only engage in activities that contribute to my personal growth, my role as a father, and my performance as a basketball player,” Antetokounmpo asserts with unwavering resolve in his gaze.
Antetokounmpo is affectionately referred to as the ‘Greek Freak’ because to his uncommon blend of remarkable speed and agility, despite his towering height of 6’11”. However, he is cognizant that his physical attributes alone are insufficient for achieving success. In order to achieve greatness, he is aware that he must consistently enhance his abilities.
“A couple of years ago, I made the commitment to only focus on things that will make me better. At this point in my life I need to commit to being the best basketball player in the world. That is where greatness is,” he says. “I have to sacrifice a lot to do that, but that is me. Not everyone is like me.”
The Greek basketball star’s global popularity might be attributed to his winning mindset. The Milwaukee Bucks’ player was crowned the NBA’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ in 2019. However, he did not rest on his laurels and went on to guide his club to victory in the NBA Championship the following year, marking the Bucks’ first triumph in half a century.
His international acclaim in sports, along with his unwavering dedication to self-improvement, motivated the renowned Swiss wristwatch, Breitling, to include him in their esteemed group of brand ambassadors, known as ‘squads’.
In early 2022, he joined the likes of Brad Pitt, Kelly Slater and Charlize Theron as one of the many famous faces of the lifestyle-focused watch brand, making up part of Breitling’s ‘all-star squad’, alongside other superlative athletes Erling Haaland, Chloe Kim, and Trevor Lawrence. Since then Antetokounmpo has already appeared in campaigns for Breitling’s Navitimer and Chronomat collections.“Both are great but, honestly, I love the Navitimer,” he says when pushed on picking his favourite between the two styles. “It’s special to me because it was the first campaign we did together. Actually, I have a funny story about it, because one of my teammates, Sandro Mamukelashvili, basically tried to steal my first Navitimer from me! He kept putting it on and asking if he could keep it. Eventually, I ended up saying ‘yes’,” he laughs.
It’s a demonstration of the level of selflessness that Antetokounmpo brings to the team, due to his role as a locker room leader. “When I’m on the court I zone everything else out. I am there to work, I am there to improve, and I am there to accomplish something, without making excuses,” he says. “I expect the same commitment from my teammates. Every time we step on the court, we are ready to go to war together.”
In short, being good is good, but being great comes with great responsibility. It comes with a personal selfishness that is required by the very best, but one that can help inspire others around to achieve greater. “My father taught me to always want more, but never be greedy. That is something I think about every day,” he says.
The motto aptly describes the remarkable nature of Giannis Antetokounmpo, yet, as he himself acknowledges, not everyone possesses his exceptional qualities.