Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s reign as one of the world’s best basketball players has continued into his 12th NBA season. It’s no secret that Antetokounmpo is a proud family man and his older brother, Thanasis, is never too far away.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo is the second oldest of five Antetokounmpo brothers. After spending the previous five seasons as Giannis’ teammate in Milwaukee, circumstances have caused Thanasis to take on a different role for the 2024-25 season.
Last year, Thanasis was one of the most vocal members of Milwaukee’s bench unit. This season, he has been just as vocal from the sideline, but he’s seated among other fans with courtside seats and not on the Bucks bench.
Was Thanasis waived by Milwaukee? Here is why Giannis’ older brother is no longer in uniform when attending Bucks games this season.
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Was Thanasis Antetokounmpo waived by the Bucks?
Thanasis Antetokounmpo was not waived by the Bucks. He is, however, currently a free agent.
In 2023, Thanasis signed a one-year contract that expired following the 2023-24 season, meaning he would enter free agency during the 2024 offseason.
Days after Milwaukee was eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Thanasis suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a workout. Because of the lengthy recovery timeline from Achilles surgery, he is unlikely to return to high-level competition until April or May 2025. As such, Thanasis has not signed an NBA contract and continues to focus on rehabbing from the surgery to repair his Achilles.
Thanasis’ visibility at Bucks games has increased as the season has progressed. Broadcast cameras often catch him communicating with Giannis and the rest of the Bucks as if he were still seated on the team’s bench, but he is sitting with fans courtside, often opposite Milwaukee’s bench.
Quick 7-0 start has Giannis fired up! pic.twitter.com/jOyG2gaIvq
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 14, 2024
Thanasis is lovin’ this smooth J from Giannis 😤 pic.twitter.com/CS9xBByN4i
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 14, 2024
Because of his proximity to the franchise and closeness with his younger brother, Thanasis could return to the roster once he completes a full recovery from his injury. It is unclear where Thanasis is in the rehab process, but it is safe to expect him to be ready to compete in the 2025-26 season.
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Thanasis Antetokounmpo career timeline
Thanasis Antetokounmpo was selected with the No. 51 pick by the Knicks in the 2014 NBA Draft. He was selected after spending the 2013-14 season in the NBA G League with the Delaware 87ers (now Blue Coats).
Despite being two years older than Giannis, Thanasis was drafted one year later.
Here is where his career has taken him since:
| Year | Team |
| 2014-16 | Westchester Knicks (G League) |
| 2015-16 | Knicks |
| 2016-17 | Andorra (Spain) |
| 2017-19 | Panathinaikos (Greece) |
| 2019-2024 | Bucks |
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Giannis Antetokounmpo family tree
As mentioned above, family is an important value for the Antetokounmpos. Giannis and Thanasis were the subjects of the 2022 Disney film, “Rise.”
Here is an outline of their family tree, including professional basketball-playing younger brothers Kostas (Panathinaikos) and Alex (PAOK Thessaloniki):
- Parents: Veronica and Charles Antetokounmpo
- Brothers: Francis, Thanasis, Kostas and Alex Antetokounmpo
- Wife: Mariah Riddlesprigger Antetokounmpo
- Children: Liam (born 2020), Maverick (born 2021), Eva (born 2023)
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