Story by
"I've done it all man. I can retire now" - Giannis Antetokounmpo on seeing brother Alex reach the NBA
- Story by
- "I've done it all man. I can retire now" - Giannis Antetokounmpo on seeing brother Alex reach the NBA
Giannis Antetokounmpo was ecstatic after his youngest brother, Alex, drilled a late free throw during the Milwaukee Bucks ' 123-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks . In a video, Giannis expressed a sense of fulfillment that great players and athletes experience only after their careers are over.
"Hey, man. I can retire now," he said.
Advertisement
And with a Hall of Fame resume like his, decorated with an NBA title, a Finals MVP, two regular-season MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year award and a selection to the 75th Anniversary team, his accomplishments would be enough to make him feel complete.
But that wasn't the case. He could not help but be overwhelmed with pride as he watched Alex play his first minutes and score his first points in the NBA. Alex finished with three points, all from the charity stripe, in 2:48 minutes of playing time, marking a historic milestone for the Antetokounmpo brothers.
"I've done it all man. I can retire now," he reiterated.
Advertisement
The Antetokounmpo Brothers make history
With Alex playing the game, the Antetokounmpos officially became the first trio of brothers to play on active NBA contracts on the same team, as Thanasis is also with the Bucks. However, only Alex suited up for tonight's game against the Mavs. Giannis and Thanasis are still listed as out and recovering from their knee and calf injuries, respectively.
The Bucks signed Alex to a two-way contract in October 2025. Undrafted in 2021, Alex gained plenty of experience playing for the Sacramento Kings ' 2021 Summer League title team and in the G-League.
Advertisement
Other than Giannis and Thanasis, who resigned with the Bucks in August 2025, their brother, Kostas , also had NBA experience. But he played from 2018 to 2022, which was not long enough for him to band with his brothers on the team or at least compete against them.
Still, seeing Alex finally play was historic. Meanwhile, for Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, it was simply surreal to witness Giannis get nervous – a rare sight for someone who has carried the franchise for 16 years.
"It's really cool," Rivers said after the game. "Giannis told me his hands were sweating. I thought that was hilarious. Giannis grabbed my hands and said 'My hands are sweating. I'm so nervous right now for my brother.' To see him make the free throws and play—listen, three family members in the NBA, that's a pretty cool moment for him."
Advertisement
Related: "NBA-Ready" prospect is the most overused gamble in basketball
A dream come true
The Bucks' season has been nothing short of tumultuous. Throughout the season, they had to deal with inconsistent play, injuries, and, of course, the Giannis trade saga that led to nowhere.
And it all amounted to what everybody expected: getting eliminated from the playoffs. They are now 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 30-45 record.
Now, with the season virtually concluded, the Bucks' next order of business is to regroup and do better in the next season. On top of that, they must navigate the uncertainty surrounding the future of their franchise centerpiece with the team.
Advertisement
When the Bucks signed Alex and re-signed Thanasis, fans and pundits viewed it as a desperate move to keep Giannis happy. While it certainly looks like it did, this does not mean that Alex did not earn his spot on the roster. Even Giannis admitted that he could be better than him in the future.
Now, Alex is finally living his dream with his brothers.
"A dream come true," he said via Eric Nehm. "Honestly, just subbing in, I was looking around. Obviously, being a kid that grew up in Milwaukee, it was just kind of crazy. I've been to more Bucks games than I can even count, so to put on that jersey was amazing."
Advertisement
After the game, Giannis secured the game ball and gave it to Alex. He will now forever have a reminder of the beginning of his NBA dream. How long he'll get to cherish it alongside his brothers remains uncertain.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
