Giannis Antetokounmpo will have to soldier on without his older brother for the first time in seven years.
With Giannis no longer with the Milwaukee Bucks this season, Thanasis Antetokounmpo has reportedly decided to leave the NBA entirely. According to Eurohoops, Thanasis has agreed to sign a three-year contract with Greek team Aris Thessaloniki.
🚨 BREAKING:
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 1, 2026
ARIS Thessaloniki signs THANASIS ANTETOKOUNMPO to a three-year deal pic.twitter.com/pHvwLTGZ6M
The 34-year-old won’t be too lonely, as he reunites with another younger brother, Kostas Antetokounmpo, on the Aris Thessaloniki squad.
Thanasis spent the last seven years with the Bucks, missing the 2024-25 season entirely due to a torn Achilles tendon. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.5 rebounds across 230 games in Milwaukee.
Thanasis’ biggest contribution for the Bucks evidently went beyond the box score. He gave Giannis, one of the most family-oriented players in the league, moral support from the sidelines and the locker room every night.
Fans were surprised to learn that Thanasis was not included in the blockbuster trade that sent Giannis to the Heat, with many cracking jokes at his expense. Reports later confirmed that Miami was not interested in bringing Thanasis to South Beach.
Giannis largely received preferential treatment within the Bucks organization, which explains why a benchwarmer like Thanasis stuck on their roster for so long. Pat Riley was not going to bend the same way.
