NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (“The Greek Freak”) of the Milwaukee Bucks will host a basketball clinic for kids at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, and will headline a gala dinner at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Park as part of “Greek Freak Week” in New York on Sunday, June 4.
The 6 foot, 11 inch Antetokounmpo plays small forward and guard for the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2016-17, he was an NBA All Star for the first time and blossomed into an all-round superstar by leading the Bucks in all five major statistical categories. He also became the first player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Born to Nigerian parents who emigrated to Greece, he obtained Greek citizenship in 2013.
The festivities, organized by Hellenic Public Radio Cosmos FM 91.5, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will begin with the “Feel Greek” exhibition basketball game and clinic at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY on Sunday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m. The event will feature a line-up of former and current basketball stars from Greece and enable them to interact with young Greek Americans.
Teams of Greek-American youths of New York metro area will be coached by Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo of the Liga ACB, the top division of the Spanish basketball league system. They will be joined on the sidelines by Panagiotis Fasoulas, representing the Greek National Basketball Team of 1987, and Michael Kakiouzis, representing the 2005 champions. Both players played key roles in Greece’s only gold medal European basketball championships.
The celebrations will conclude that evening with an Awards Gala in the evening at 7:00 p.m. at Terrace on the Park, where the parents of the 23-year-old star, Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo, will be honored. The couple are receiving the award for raising their four children with Hellenic values, ideals, and standards. In addition, awards will be presented to the rest of the special guests, representing the past, present, and future of Greek Basketball for their immense contribution to Hellenism and sports. TV’s Ernie Anastos, Emmy-award winning FOX 5 News anchor, will host the gala event.
The events will take place with the support of the Greek National Tourism Organization. Part of the proceeds will be donated to charity.