Thanasis chooses Greece and Aris after seven years in Milwaukee

Thanasis Antetokounmpo is closing a seven-year chapter in the NBA to return to his roots. The Greek player has reached an agreement with Aris Thessaloniki that includes a two-year contract with an additional option. The decision signifies a turning point in the forward's career, as he will share a locker room with his brother Kostas and will work under the direction of Vassilis Spanoulis in the EuroCup.

Thanasis' arrival at the Thessaloniki club is not coincidental. Aris is building an ambitious project in the second European continental competition, with high-level signings such as Stefan Jovic, Nenad Dimitrijevic, Matt Morgan, Vassilis Toliopoulos, and Khem Birch. This is not a filler team; it is a declared candidate to conquer the EuroCup title with Spanoulis in his first year as head coach.

The return after a testimonial season

Thanasis' last campaign in the NBA was marginal. With the Milwaukee Bucks, he played 34 games with averages of 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. His role was that of a benchwarmer, a position he has occupied for a good part of his career in the North American league. Before that campaign, the Greek missed the entire 2024-25 season due to injury, making a return to regular competition news in his case.

Despite the modest numbers, Thanasis has never been a stats player. His value has always resided in other aspects: presence in the locker room, energy, effort, and defensive commitment. He is the prototype of the eleventh or twelfth man that every team needs. His best season in the NBA came in 2021-22, when he averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in nearly nine minutes per game. Additionally, he holds an NBA championship ring won with the Bucks in 2021, which gives him a pedigree he will bring to the Greek project.

The ambitious project of Spanoulis' Aris

The incorporation of Thanasis makes sense when analyzing the roster that Aris Thessaloniki is putting together. Vassilis Spanoulis, who is debuting as a coach at the club, has recruited EuroLeague-caliber players that raise the team's expectations. Stefan Jovic, Nenad Dimitrijevic, Matt Morgan, Vassilis Toliopoulos, and Khem Birch form a roster that aspires to compete for the EuroCup title.

Spanoulis' involvement adds an additional layer of interest to the move. The Greek coach combines his role at Aris with the management of the Greek national team. Last Monday, he led his team to a victory over Spain at OAKA, a game in which both Thanasis and Kostas Antetokounmpo played. Toliopoulos, the new teammate of both brothers in Thessaloniki, was also present at that match. This prior connection between players and coach facilitates integration and underscores the coherence of the project.

A decision that surprised many

Thanasis' choice generated surprise in NBA circles. Many analysts assumed that the forward would follow his brother Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, especially after the trade that sent the NBA MVP to Florida during the summer. However, Thanasis has chosen to reunite with Kostas in Greece, rather than pursue a marginal role on a team that has been filling up with players at the end of the bench.

This decision reflects a different priority. At 34 years old, with a résumé built more on the intangibles of the locker room than on the scoreboard, the option to return to Europe and play regularly made more sense than occupying a seat at the end of the bench in Miami. The two-year contract with one optional year from Aris offers him stability and the possibility of contributing more actively to a competitive project.

The Antetokounmpo brothers reunited in Thessaloniki

The reunion of Thanasis and Kostas at Aris Thessaloniki closes a family cycle in European basketball. The three Antetokounmpo brothers have already played together in the Greek national team, where they have shared a locker room under different coaches. Now, two of them will also do so at the club level, marking a special milestone for the family and the Thessaloniki team's project.

Kostas, who has also had his share of experiences in the NBA, will now have his brother Thanasis as a direct teammate at Aris. This shared experience in the locker room may strengthen both group cohesion and emotional stability for both. Spanoulis, aware of their potential and mindset, has created an environment where the brothers can thrive together in the EuroCup.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo's return to Europe marks the end of a seven-year chapter with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he won a championship alongside his brother Giannis. Now, in Thessaloniki, he aims to write a new chapter in his career in a project that aspires to great things in the continental competition. At 34 years old, his experience, winning mentality, and presence in the locker room will be valuable assets for an Aris team looking to conquer the EuroCup under Spanoulis' direction.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Thanasis elige Grecia y el Aris tras siete años en Milwaukee