Now a member of the Miami Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo attended the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s “SFN Nostos 2026” festival and spoke about the difficulties he faced, as well as periods when he wasn’t feeling well mentally, noting that at those times, the thought of walking away from basketball had even crossed his mind.
“The first time it was really hard for me was when I was a kid and I saw my parents struggling. The second was around 2020, when I was dealing with mental health issues and wanted to step away from basketball. I’ve said this before. I love basketball, but I don’t like the spotlight. I’m more of an introvert, while my brother is different,” were his first words, and he continued:
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“I had a huge weight on my shoulders. My father had passed away, I had just had a child, my mother was living with me, and I had to be a father figure to my brother because we had just lost our father. At the same time, I had to be one of the best athletes in the world. The pressure was so great that I wanted to give up.
But I realized that no one can take away the joy I get from what I do. That moment shaped me. I am unbreakable. I became a better father, a better husband, a better son, and a better person.”
*photo source: AP
