The post-career of an NBA player is important to succeed in not being psychologically too affected by this small death. Some become consultants, others host their own show, join an NBA staff or front office or focus on growing their other professional projects. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be 28 next December and he still has many good years ahead of him. Nevertheless, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar already has a clear idea of when he will no longer be a basketball player.
His answer, made on the airwaves of Sirius XM, is very interesting and not so frequent.
“When I leave the NBA, I want to disappear. I want to go somewhere where they won’t be looking for me. I went to Sweden two years ago and nobody knew me. When I left, people said, ‘ Is it Giannis?’ I even shot a Youtube video with one of my friends in which I shout: ‘Nobody knows me, nobody knows me!’ People were turning around and saying, ‘Who is this kid?!’ and they went on their way, they didn’t know who I was.
No one was talking to me or bothering me on the street, which is cool. The great elders like Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson are retired but everyone continues to know them, to follow them in the street, all that… I don’t know if I will be able to do that.
I want to be like Tim Duncan. Where did he go? What becomes of it? I do not know. I want to be like him. That people say to themselves: ‘Ah yes, hey, it was Giannis’. I want to play and people forget me, that people don’t talk about me”.
Once again, Giannis Antetokounmpo shows that he is different from most of his peers. Many want to remain public figures, in particular through their activity, and to gravitate around the NBA. To no longer want to be in the spotlight is a very understandable aspiration when one is and has been one of the faces of an extremely popular sport in the United States.
If he stays in America, it won’t be easy for Giannis to disappear so easily. People love him, in Milwaukee and elsewhere, and will want to hear from him. As for Tim Duncan, he nevertheless made a small comeback to help Gregg Popovich as an assistant for a season, before dividing his time between his family life in San Antonio, his involvement in the Virgin Islands and a pronounced taste for martial arts.
Unless they opt for a destination where basketball is not a major concern for the people – like in Sweden – the Greek Freak and his family will still have to resolve not to disappear completely.
“When I retire from this game I want to disappear. I want to go somewhere where they’re not going to know me… I want to be like Tim Duncan. Where the hell is Tim Duncan?!” ????
Giannis Antetokounmpo on his plans post-basketball careerpic.twitter.com/FFtQl2EOwz
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 1, 2022
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