Giannis Antetokounmpo Learned His Nickname Is Very Different In China


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Giannis Antetokounmpo, you may have noticed, has a long last name. That’s why many call him the Greek Freak, including people that write about him constantly because he’s always doing something remarkable.

But basketball, especially NBA basketball, is an international game. And while the sport certainly translates, the words may not always fare so well.

For example, Antetokounmpo spoke with reporters recently and was notified that in China, people don’t usually say his full name. In fact, his nickname there is actually pretty hilarious.

“Your last name is super long so in China everyone called you ‘Letter Bro,” the reporter told Antetokounmpo.

Letter Bro! That’s amazing in that it’s not clever at all but incredibly logical. I love it.

Thinking he misheard her, though, Giannis asked her to say it again. She then asked his reaction to the nickname, and poor Giannis looked completely lost.

“You have so many letters for your last name,” she said. “So how do you like this name? What’s your thought on this?”

Antetokounmpo thought about it for a moment, then answered.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that name. That nickname,” he said. “It’s cool, you know. In China people call me like that, it’s cool.”

As someone who also has a lot of letters in their last name, I can sympathize with Antetokounmpo here. But unlike Giannis, I’m not known for thundering dunks and have no nickname in China at all. Though I suppose “letter bro” would work for me there, too.

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