AntetokounBros Academy: Season 1 is finally completed

An incredible journey filled with new learning experiences

The Antetokounmpo family’s vision has been made a reality with the invaluable help of Nike, the Onassis Foundation, and the Eurohoops Organization. The AntetokounBros Academy’s first training season was just brought to a close with a graduation ceremony, and we’re already looking fondly back over everything that has happened since this journey began.

Photo: Evan Maragkoudakis

The first 100 children and 12 Junior Coaches to study in this inaugural year of the AntetokounBros Academy impressed us all, not only with their excitement in the run up to each training session, but also through their marked improvement.

Athletes who arrived nervously at the courts in Lambrini and Ambelokipi, holding their parents’ hands, to sign up for training, without knowing the first thing about the sport, were warmly embraced by their fellow players, and immediately made extraordinary leaps in their development, pleasantly surprising their coaches in the process.

Photo: Evan Maragkoudakis

These young athletes and coaches were not only inspired within the confines of the court; the children also attended workshops held at Onassis Stegi, which proved an exceptional and motivational experience for all. The athletes came in contact with their mentors and, through experiential educational anti-bullying and public speaking workshops, were given the opportunity to practice their skills, discover ways of feeling comfortable with their bodies, and were given the techniques and means with which to face up to bullying behavior – because the program aims not just to make them good athletes, but also good teammates and citizens.Alongside all this, the Antetokounbros Academy coaches went beyond purely practical training by means of interactive seminars held at Onassis Stegi, where they broke down and analyzed their beloved game for the children. And the basketball didn’t stop on Sundays. The AntetokounBros Academy had the honor of hosting matches played by the AEK Basketball Club, as well as the Olympiacos and Panathinaikos women’s teams. Our young athletes enjoyed these games immensely, and got to spend time with these sports men and women, who were truly excited and happy to meet them too.

Among the biggest surprises of the year were the unforgettable moments Academy members shared with Rocky Hehakaija, the first and only female member of Street Legends, the best street football team in the world, and founder of the Favela Street Foundation. Rocky didn’t hesitate to drop the beautiful game’s ball before even giving us a taste of her talents in order to play basketball with our athletes and one of the sport’s masters – Academy Head Coach Anastasia Kostaki. And in her talk to the children, she stressed how important it is for them to believe in themselves: “What makes you different is what makes you beautiful. You should be reaching for the skies.”

Photo: Evan Maragkoudakis

At the event held yesterday at the Eurohoops Dome in Kifissia, our young athletes were handed their medals and diplomas by Head Coach Anastasia Kostaki, two of the Antetokounmpo brothers, Alex and Francis, and their mother, Veronica.

Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared in a live Zoom link from Orlando in the US, where he is preparing for the NBA restart, and spoke to the Academy’s athletes. He announced that they would all be receiving a pair of the new Nike Zoom Freak 2 sneakers, and answered the children’s questions. In a characteristic answer given to one of the Academy’s young female athletes, he sent the message that we shouldn’t ever let anything stop us: “The thing that kept me going in my difficult moments was my family. For me to stop working at it was never an option. I wanted always to be better, to make it to the NBA one day and play alongside the very best players. I have my family and friends by my side. Nothing has ever stopped me, ever since I started.”

In much the same way, the journey doesn’t stop here for the AntetokounBros Academy’s athletes and Junior Coaches – indeed many of them have already discovered new ways to better themselves, and some have even been awarded program scholarships.

Six scholarships were awarded to young athletes: scholarships for basketball training at the Eurohoops Academy Leonteios for two athletes each year, and the opportunity for four children each year – two boys and two girls – to attend summer schools in the United Kingdom (all expenses paid), courtesy of the Onassis Foundation. All athletes graduating from the Academy who are also completing their college education in the next school year will also be able to apply for the Onassis Foundation’s “One of a Kind” undergraduate scholarship, which covers the full duration of their university studies.

The AntetokounBros Academy is also, investing in the continued development of trainee coaches by offering courses in First Aid. One trainee coach will also win an Onassis Foundation scholarship to attend an international basketball coaching academy, while another will take up a post at the Eurohoops Academy Leonteios.

Last but not least, after the program’s end, all athletes and trainee coaches will have access to useful advice and information for their continued personal and professional development.

Photo: Evan Maragkoudakis

About AntetokounBros Academy

The program is housed at the Lambrini and Ambelokipi basketball courts, with the support of the City of Athens Culture, Sport and Youth Organization (OPANDA).This initiative is set to be held over two years in Athens (2019-20 & 2020-21) with the support of Nike, which is providing funding and know-how, the Eurohoops Organization, which runs the training program, and the Onassis Foundation, which – through a series of workshops, talks and scholarships set to inspire and boost those taking part – will imbue youngsters with the values embodied by the Antetokounmpo brothers.

Photo: Evan Maragkoudakis