Kostas Antetokounmpo Signs Training Camp Deal With the Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls have signed Kostas Antetokounmpo, brother of Giannis, to a training camp deal that could lead to a permanent contract.

Born on November 20, 1997 in Athens, Antetokounmpo was drafted sixtieth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 NBA draft, and his draft rights were then traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

Aside from the Greek Freak, his two other brothers, Thanasis and Alex, are also professional basketball players.

The Chicago Bulls welcomed Antetokounmpo to the training camp through Twitter.

Let’s get Training Camp started 😤 pic.twitter.com/GkskisxgYE

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 27, 2022

Antetokounmpo was born in Sepolia in Athens, Greece. His parents were immigrants from Nigeria.

He has a Nigerian passport, granted to him in June 2013 so that he could gain a visa, and be allowed to legally enter the United States. He officially became a full Greek citizen in 2016.

He is the younger brother of basketball players Giannis and Thanasis and the older brother of Alex. His oldest brother, Francis, is also a professional association football player.

He began playing basketball with the junior teams of Filathlitikos in Athens.

Antetokounmpo could join the Chicago Bulls, among NBA’s greatest dynasties

If Antetokounmpo signs a permanent contract with the Chicago Bulls, he will be joining a club that saw its greatest success during the 1990s when they played a major part in popularizing the NBA worldwide.

They are known for having one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties, winning six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998 with two three-peats.

All six of their championship teams were led by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and coach Phil Jackson. The Bulls are the only NBA franchise to win multiple championships while never losing an NBA Finals series in their history.

Since 1998, the Bulls have failed to regain their former success. The franchise struggled throughout the 2000s but showed promise in the early 2010s led by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, culminating in back-to-back seasons in 2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2012.

However, due to injuries and departures of key players, the franchise was never able to build on that success and has sunk back into mediocrity since.