Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly signed with Adidas before a negotiation betrayal changed NBA history. The superstar chose Nike after Adidas representatives tried to separate him from his brother during contract talks.

When Adidas approached him, he was still playing in Greece, for Filathlitikos, earning $300 per month. Adidas offered him €5,000, but Giannis wanted to include his brother, Thanasis, in the deal, too. Adidas verbally agreed, but when they went to sign, the Adidas representative only brought a contract for Giannis.

 “They gave me the paper ... It said Giannis Antetokounmpo 5 thousand dollars. I was like, 'What is my brother's contract?' He was like, ' No, you sign yours first, and then your Brother will sign his ... I said, No, that's not what you guys told me... No brother. My mom was there ... Mom was like, " It's 5000, I said, " Mom, no,” Giannis explained.

Antetokounmpo felt the representatives were taking advantage of his family's financial struggles. 

Despite his mother's gentle encouragement to accept the needed money, Antetokounmpo refused. He later explained that he knew what he was worth. He was willing to sacrifice immediate financial relief to stand up for his brother. 

A new opportunity arrived almost immediately after the failed meeting. While riding in a car with his agent, Nike representative Susan Mulders contacted him.

Antetokounmpo wanted to know if the company would offer the same deal to his brother. Nike agreed to his terms.

The response bagged the deal. Antetokounmpo recalled saying, "Okay, I'll come with Nike. That's how Nike got me." This choice was set to be another historic and loyal brand partnership.

How Keeping His Family First Built a Lasting Partnership

Nike viewed the contract as a true family partnership rather than a single-athlete deal.

Antetokounmpo signed his first official deal in 2013 after entering the NBA. The contract paid $25,000 annually and included a signing bonus. 

The partnership grew alongside his incredible rise in the league. This success led to the launch of the Nike Zoom Freak line in 2019.

He stayed very active in the shoe designs, turning the relationship into one of the flagship partnerships for the brand.

Antetokounmpo advised young athletes about the importance of protecting themselves in business. He advised that lawyers, agents, and financial advisors should always remain independent. This separation makes sure that they hold one another accountable.

He also expanded on the need for true financial literacy. Antetokounmpo recommended reading books like Rich Dad Poor Dad and The Psychology of Money. He shared his philosophy that "Price is what you pay, value is what you get." 

Adidas lost a future global icon because the company hesitated on a basic promise. Nike gained a loyal legend by saying yes to the people he cared about most.

Do you think young athletes should follow his advice on managing business deals and agents?

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Koushik Biswas