There’s a reason they call him the “Greek Freak,” and it’s not just because it’s a pithy nickname that aligns with this ethnic heritage. It’s at least partially because “Giannis Antetokounmpo” is a mouthful that looks like what happens when your cat steps on your keyboard. The young All-Star’s surname is an especially big hurdle for NBA broadcasters, who have the unenviable task of trying to pronounce it correctly on a nightly basis.
Just ask Stacey King, who is currently the reigning, undefeated champ of butchering “Antetokounmpo” so spectacularly that the sounds he managed to utter weren’t even remotely recognizable as actual human language. But even grizzled veterans like Marv Albert have a bear of a time with it, sometimes especially so.
It’s times like these we are reminded of the wonders of the internet, that there are brave, selfless souls out there willing to do the thankless work required to chronicle such pivotal events in history. With that, we leave you with this glorious super-cut of all the times Marv Albert completely mangled Antetokounmpo’s name.
We do this not from a place of superiority, but rather to commiserate. It’s even harder to spell than to pronounce, even when you’re looking right at it.
