Nikos Galis - Giannis Antetokounmpo: two Greek basketball players who became international brand names

For a country of small size and population with specific opportunities for the promotion of an athlete, the emergence of a first-class name and even more so as an international brand name, cannot be a simple matter. Looking back to the past to reach the present day, one will find that two players, both from the basketball world, have managed to break out of the Greek borders and build their image beyond them.

Nikos Galis and Giannis Antetokounmpo are two examples of athletes who, in addition to their outstanding performances on the courts where they played, have managed to create an international brand name that would be the envy of some of the most elite marketing executives. Their sporting achievements, the humility and seriousness they have shown, and certainly the positive circumstances during their careers have contributed to this fact, but with one main difference between them. Galis lived and worked in the era of traditional media and communication with the public such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines. Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, has had and continues to have the opportunity to enhance his social media image on a daily basis as through his Instragram page he has the ability to reach and influence 16.1 million people who follow him.

For the latter, the mention of Nike with whom he works exclusively for the sportswear collections, Zoom Freak 1 and Zoom Freak 2, shows interest, with the global giant of the global apparel and footwear industry, noting for Antetokounmpo: "From an unknown rising talent to one of the best players in the league, Giannis' unwavering professional ethos and unparalleled passion are the traits that help him constantly transform. The Greek Freak inspires the next generation of basketball players around the world to become the best version of themselves."

On the other hand, Nikolaos Georgalis, also known as Nikos Galis, is the man who managed to turn his name into a synonym for basketball and change the course of the sport's history in our country. He was born on July 23, 1957 in New Jersey, United States, to Greek parents from Rhodes, Greece. Although he "loved" boxing in his childhood, he was fortunately won over by basketball. He attended school on the other side of the Atlantic and even in his senior year he became the leading scorer in the NCAA college championship (he averaged 27.5 points), second only to the great Larry Bird. He was drafted in the draft by the Boston Celtics, but an injury kept him away from the magical world of the NBA. So, he decided to cross the Atlantic and seek his fortune in Greece.

After his great career with Aris, Pavlos Giannakopoulos made the biggest signing in Greek history in the summer of 1992. Galis left Thessaloniki for Panathinaikos.

Between the world's top basketball players

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has recognized him as the greatest European scorer of all time thanks to his 24,721 points and 32.8 points per game average in his professional career. In 2007 he became the first Greek basketball player to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame and in 2017 into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

What both of them had in common was their business activities. In 1992, Galis founded the company "Nikos Galis - Youth and Adult Protection Centres" (formerly Niko Athletiki), based in Thessaloniki with facilities in Pevkochori, Kassandra, Halkidiki. The object of the company, which was later listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, was the operation of model children's camps and sports facilities. Galis' camps were a must for every person from Northern Greece. Thousands of school-age children were hosted every summer, covering at the end of the decade almost 8% of all children hosted in camps throughout Greece. However, Nikos Galis's business venture did not go as he would have liked and a few years later he himself was forced to transfer his shares in his company. The buyer was Fotis Manousis, who was already active with Saos shipping in Samothrace. Today, the e-shop of the official brand Nick Galis by Crossover sells sporting goods with the athlete's signature, all of them inspired by the career and life of Nick Galis.

The Greek Freak's investments

Antetokounmpo decided to invest a seven-figure sum in shares of former basketball player Pat Cavanaugh's Ready Nutrition company, which in 2012 created one of the fastest growing sports nutrition companies in the US. The partnership involves promoting the energy drink through the face of Antetokounmpo in markets across Europe, including Greece where the energy drink is already being advertised and distributed. Also, with members of his family, he decided to collaborate with John Koudounis, CEO of the investment firm Calamos Investments, to create the ESG Calamos Antetokounmpo Global Sustainable Equity Funds bundle, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

One of the Antetokounmpo brothers' first investments was with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021, an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Greek Freak has also invested in Candy Funhouse, a candy company based in Canada.

Greece is not missing from his investment frame as he has acquired a stake in the Hellenic Wineries Group, which owns the Boutari Winery and Ioli natural mineral water.

We also mention that the Antetokounmpo brothers have set up Ante Inc. through which all the business activities of Giannis, Thanasis, Kostas and Alex are carried out. One of Giannis Antetokounbos' first investments in Greece was the "Antetokounbros" store at El. One of the first projects of Antetokounounos was the "Antetokounsouns" in Greece at the Elle Venizelos Airport. It is a sportswear brand, with "made in Greece" all the production and design and based in Athens and apart from the airport store, a store on Ermou Street was created shortly afterwards.