Former U.S. President and presidential candidate Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination at the Fiserv Forum, where the Milwaukee Bucks play their home games. Trump has subsequently made public comments about his visit to Milwaukee and his time spent in the arena.
Talking at a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump expressed his appreciation of the Milwaukee citizens. He talked about how great their home arena was, and commented on the Bucks, especially their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, although he avoided pronouncing his name.
“Milwaukee was great,” Trump said. “They did a great job. The stadium is new. They built it for the basketball team, which is excellent. You know ‘The Greek,’ right? ‘The Greek.'”
•
Trump was clearly referring to Antetokounmpo, who was born in Athens, Greece to Nigerian parents. Giannis has played 11 seasons with the Bucks and won two regular season MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and an NBA championship in 2021.
Trump’s speech has since made rounds in the basketball world. Fans jumped on X, formerly known as Twitter, to react to the presidential candidate’s misstep.
“Not one cheer lol no one knows ball there,” said one fan.
“Ig its better than “the freak”,” said another fan.
“He probably doesn’t even know his nickname that’s just what he calls him💀💀,” said one fan.
Other NBA fans then joked about the matter, wittingly inserting other prominent figures in politics such as current U.S Joe Biden, and other NBA player and Giannis’ brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
“Biden would’ve called him Lew AlCindor,” said one fan.
“It woulda been 10x funnier if he called him “The Freak”,” said another fan
“He was talking about thanasis,” said another fan.
Trump ended that part of his speech by complimenting Giannis, calling him a good player for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo to be Olympic flag bearer for Greece
Giannis Antetokounmpo will be once again representing Greece in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Not only is he gunning for his first Olympic gold medal, but the Bucks star will also be the flag bearer for Greece, becoming the first Black athlete to carry his country’s flag.
The Paris Games will serve as Giannis’ first taste of Olympic basketball. He also led Greece to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament last month wherein they beat Luka Doncic’s Slovenia.
The Greeks last qualified for the Olympic Games in 2008 in which they finished fifth in the standings. The nation has never won any medal in men’s Olympic basketball ever.
Giannis is expected to lead the Greeks in the group phase against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Canada, Santi Aldama’s Spain, and Josh Giddey’s Australia. The group is considered to be the tournament’s Group of Death.
Edited by Debasish
