Mirin FaderGiannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion

Extremely well written and the story is one to hear. Goes way beyond sports (and the sports descriptions were great) and a great deal about cultures and human strengths and weaknesses. LOVED IT!

This expressively written book reminded me that as great as Giannis' basketball skills are, he is first and foremost a devoted son, brother, partner and, yes, patriot (despite the ill-treatment afforded him and his family by so many of his countrymen.) This book is a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable person.What I like best about this book is that it not only describes in remarkable detail the journey that Giannis took to become the "Greek Freak," but that it takes the time to put that story in context--examining the relevant social, cultural and historical backdrop against which Giannis's rise to fame took place. We learn, for example, about the impact of "Golden Dawn"--the right wing, xenophobic white supremacist group that saw in families like Giannis' a threat to their own white domination and privilege--on Greeks of color. We learn with considerable detail about the extreme poverty experienced by Giannis's families and so many others. And we learn about the very human need to identify with a nation and with a home. Giannis' love of his native home, Greece, is so poignantly expressed by him and his family--against the challenge of obtaining official papers that would confirm Giannis' Greek citizenship (despite having been born in Greece, he would not necessarily be granted citizenship).Later, when achieving fame in the league whose stars he had idolized for so long, Giannis would consider Milwaukee his home, too--and would turn down the opportunity to move to a bigger, glitzier city (with all the perks that a bigger market would provide). Giannis is, above all, loyal--to family and to those who have faith in him, as his loyalty to the Bucks and Milwaukee fans amply shows .Mirin Fader has elegantly and movingly presented all these aspects of Giannis' story. I highly recommend this book, for fans and non-fans alike.

Mirin Fader's story gives you a deeper understanding of the life of Giannis than you can even imagine. It makes you feel and understand what he and his family went through as they struggled as immigrants living in Greece, how he first fell in love with basketball, what factors led him to become the success he has as an NBA MVP and champion. It has remarkable anecdotes about his life that I won't spoil here. But let's just say the cookie jar one will stick with me forever. Some are funny. Others are infurating. A few of them are depressing. All of them, in some way, can inspire you. There are life lessons woven throughout, but you are never batted over the head with preachy quotes or passages. The reader takes from the book what they want. Every basketball should own this book, but the truth is you could not know a single thing about basketball and still love this book because it's about far more than just sports. It's a book about joy, struggle, sacrifice, family, love, and so much more. This is a book for everyone.

This book did an incredible job of piecing together a lot of unknown tidbits of Giannis's life and rise to stardom. I had watched the Disney+ movie about him and this book does touch on some of those issues but it is able to go to a deeper level as to what he was facing to get to where he is. The book also highlights the undying passion and relentless humility that he has and it is easy to see why Giannis is a transcendent champion on and off the court! Fader does a good job of providing context and even dropping in some foreshadowing which is unique in a sports biography. She is excellent at framing the story and in finding unexpected sources to contribute. She also put in the time to interview a wide variety of people to piece together this well written and timeless book that will hopefully inspire many! The only reason that I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is because I was hoping for a more detailed description of the championship season, however, I would still highly recommend this book to basketball fans or to anyone who likes to read about people overcoming obstacles. Great read!!

Mirin Fader did the work, and then packaged it beautifully, telling the tale of Giannis the player and Giannis the person, of growing up in Greece and becoming a man in America. Detail-rich and propulsive, Fader's narrative keeps the reader on a fine edge, wondering how exactly this next piece of the puzzle will fit into a narrative we thought we knew. The answer, always, is seamlessly.

Giannis is an incredible unicorn and Fader's story brings new details out to light regarding the struggles he and his family faced and his path to greatness. No need to be a Bucks fan or basketball fan in general. But you do need to be willing to marvel at this man's spirit and climb from virtually trinkets and loneliness. Special shout-out to Thanasis and his integral role in the family and as Giannis' big bro. And to Bucks mgmt for getting him here, as well as his family. This book is a must read for laughs, tears and human moments of joy.

It’s not often that you get a story about the heroic rise out of hardship combined with a story that will make you smile and feel good as you are reading it. The overall story of Giannis is known well, but this book captures so many of the details that have never been public.The author did a fantastic job capturing the story of the Antetokounmpo family through 100’s of interviews. If you think you know Giannis’ story well, you will still find so many details in this book that you never knew.This story takes you inside the heart and mindset of Giannis and his family. And by the end, you can’t help but feel emotional when he starts achieving the dreams he worked so hard for.

Pour un cadeau à mon petit-fils, qui pratique le sport.Je trouve que l'histoire de vie de Giannis est une excellente leçon de vie à connaître pour mon petit-fils de 14 ans.Il avait beaucoup aimé l'histoire de vie du joueur de soccer "Pele". Alors ...

Great book! Thanks to the author for the work done 👍

Prezzo ottimo

I was already a fan of Giannis anyway, but after reading this I have massive respect for him as a player and a person. A guy who really came from nothing and has worked so hard to be successful and deserve all the success he has, I also have respect for his brother thanasis as well. He might not be as big as star as Giannis but made his brother see the joys of basketball so fair play to him.

Really enjoyed reading Giannis’ life story. Very inspiring, lots of anecdotes and stories!