Attention all football enthusiasts! Does the name Charles Antetokounmpo ring a bell? Antetokounmpo is the father of not one but multiple sporting legends, including basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the power forward for Milwaukee Bucks.

The former Nigerian footballer did work hard to get a decent lifestyle for his family – his legacy is very much evident from the successful careers of his children currently. Unfortunately, Antetokounmpo didn’t live long enough to see his children become big names, but he did leave an indelible mark that went on to shape the careers and lives of his family.

In this special throwback, here’s everything that you know about this equally talented father of

the Antetokounmpo brothers!

So, Who Was Charles Antetokounmpo?  

If you are already looking up stuff like ‘Giannis Antetokounmpo dad’ on Google, then stop right now! Because we are here with everything that you need to know about this talented footballer!

But first, here’s the profile summary to make things simple, brief, and quick!

The father of NBA stars, the power forward of the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Charles Antetokounmpo, was also an athlete who had played football in Nigeria. Unfortunately, he had to give up on football once he moved to Europe with his family, where he worked hard to support his children to reach where they are today.

Here’s what you need to know about this Nigerian footballer.

What Did Charles Antetokounmpo Do For A Living?  

Since you already have information on Charles Antetokounmpo height, weight, or more, let’s talk about what Antetokounmpo instead did for a living.

Antetokounmpo started his career as a professional footballer in Nigeria. But then, in 1992, he decided to relocate to Athens, Greece, with his family. They were not able to immediately acquire citizenship – as a result, he could not have been employed formally.

The former footballer used to work odd jobs in order to fend for his family – this included selling watches, sunglasses, and handbags, assisted by his sons. The family also used to deal with racism challenges.

Who Was Charles Antetokounmpo’s Wife?  

Charles Antetokounmpo married his wife, Veronica Antetokounmpo, in Nigeria – the couple had met in Nigeria. Veronica, like her husband, used to be a professional athlete as well – she specialized in high jumps. Hailing from the Nigerian tribe called Igbo, Veronica began working as a babysitter in Athens.

How Did Charles Antetokounmpo Die?  

So, how did Charles Antetokounmpo die? Or were you looking up ‘Charles Antetokounmpo cause of death’ on Google?

The Charles Antetokounmpo death news spread like a raging wildfire after the former footballer passed away in September 2017. The footballer succumbed to an unfortunate heart attack while he was at his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Antetokounmpo had already been hospitalized for experiencing intensive chest pains.

Medical experts were actually in the middle of conducting some tests when he passed away. The Antetokounmpo family hosted Charles’ funeral in Forest Home Cemetery located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At the time of his death, Charles was only 54.

Charles Antetokounmpo And His Children:  

Charles Antetokounmpo children are a big deal, considering the Antetokounmpo brothers have certainly made a name for themselves. Today, let’s talk about the five talented sons of a talented father.

1. Francis Antetokounmpo:  

Francis is the eldest Antetokounmpo sibling. Born on 20th October 1988, Antetokounmpo spent the initial years of his life in Nigeria with his grandmother after his parents moved away to Athens before joining them later. Growing up, he played both basketball and soccer – Francis is also a budding musician.

2. Thanasis Antetokounmpo:  

The second Antetokounmpo sibling is a professional basketball player, Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Born in July 1992, Thanasis plays for the Milwaukee Bucks (an NBA franchise) and also hosts Thanalysis, a podcast. When his father passed away in 2017, Thanasis was only 25.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (The Greek Freak):  

The most popular Antetokounmpo sibling is undoubtedly the Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo! Born in December 1994, Giannis has won the NBA MVP award not once but twice – once in 2019 and once in 2020. He is the only basketball player to have achieved this feat before turning 26.

Alongside his brother Thanasis, Giannis also plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. Standing tall at 6 feet 9 inches, it is obvious that Giannis has taken after his father when it comes to his tall physique.

Giannis has two sons with his partner Mariah Riddlesprigger – Liam Charles Antetokounmpo was born in February 2020, and Maverick Shai was born sometime in 2021.

4. Kostas Antetokounmpo:  

On 20th November 1997, Charles’ fourth child was born. Following the footsteps of his two elder brothers, Kostas was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, and he started playing for the NBA in 2018, only a year after his father passed away.

Kostas has also played with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. He was the first Greek player to have won an NBA championship in 2020, right after the Miami Heat lost to the LA Lakers.

5. Alex Antetokounmpo:  

The youngest Antetokounmpo sibling is Alex, who arrived in this world sometime in August 2001. Alex has played fifteen games in the 2020 – 2021 season for the Toronto Raptors. Then, in 2022, he even teamed up with his siblings Thanasis and Giannis for the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge that took place in Cleveland.

Wrapping Up With Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation (C.A.F.F):  

Charles Antetokounmpo’s family now runs the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation or the CAFF jointly. It is an initiative that typically partners with organizations and individuals to improve the lives of others and communities, helping them in the process to achieve their dreams.

As per CAFF’s official website, this movement was inspired by their late father, who was responsible for teaching the Antetokounmpo brothers the importance of getting the opportunity to prove themselves. Today, Charles might not be among us to witness how well his children are doing, but undoubtedly, his legacy lives on through his five sons. His generosity, kindness, and love for sports lives – the future for the Antetokounmpo clan is a bright one!

Additional Reading:

• Top 10 Tallest NBA Players Of All Times
• Hot As Hell: The Hottest NBA Players of All Time
• 7 Famous And Tallest NBA Players. You Should Know

The post Charles Antetokounmpo, The Former Nigerian Footballer Who Paved The Road To Success For His Superstar NBA Son appeared first on TheSportsMag.