15 Things You Don’t Know About Giannis Antetokounmpo

3. Giannis Almost Left The NBA

Early in Giannis’ NBA career, he contemplated leaving the NBA because his family couldn’t obtain American Visas.

As a homebody, someone who enjoys the company of his family, these were very difficult times. Giannis watched them struggle his entire life to gain Greek citizenship, and he didn’t want to see his family suffer through a similar process yet again.

Giannis’ agent Giorgos Panou said, “That was the most stressful thing for him and for me as well because I know how much he wanted to have his family there with him.”

Another NBA agent working with Giannis, Alex Saratsis, added that Giannis was “vulnerable” and “scared” and that “he would sleep in the gym because he had no reason to go home.”

Fortunately, Giannis’ family eventually got their visas and were able to watch him play in the NBA, including his dad before he passed away from a heart attack in 2017.