By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Thanasis Antetokounmpo opened up about his decision to sign with Aris, even addressing whether his brother, NBA superstar Giannis, might eventually join him at the Thessaloniki outfit.
When asked during preseason media day on Thursday if they could once more share the same court down the line, Thanasis smiled.
“We’ll see, we’ll see,” he teased. “First, we have to do what needs to be done, and everything else will follow.”
The 34-year-old combo forward left the NBA after a lengthy run as a bench engine and locker-room anchor. He noted that watching a live Aris game in Thessaloniki alongside Giannis last year completely changed his perspective on returning to Greece.
“That moment was definitely a factor,” he mentioned. “I witnessed the hunger of the fans, but also something deeper and unique that I hadn’t felt in a very long time. It wasn’t just their love for the game or for our family.”
“These fans need something to rally around,” he expanded on the unique atmosphere. “I truly love being part of teams that aspire to achieve things that have never been done before.”
The move also marks a family reunion. Their brother, Alex, previously played for Aris in 2025, while Kostas currently stands as the projected starting center for the team under head coach Vassilis Spanoulis.
“I am absolutely thrilled,” Thanasis said of his reunion with Kostas. “Aside from the national team, where we played together and won a medal, we also shared the court back at Filathlitikos. It feels wonderful to step back into that role as the big brother. I’m happy to check that box off my list.”
The Antetokounmpo family ties to the BKT EuroCup participant run deep, as Aris majority owner Richard Hsiao maintains a close personal friendship with Giannis and the rest of the brothers.
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