NBA champion and two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is adding yet another sport to his repertoire with a new investment in his city’s baseball team.
The Milwaukee Bucks star is said to have purchased an ownership stake in the Milwaukee Brewers, according to the MLB team, making him the first new individual investor to be added to the Brewers ownership group since 2005, ESPN reports.
“We are honored to have Giannis join our team of Milwaukee Brewers investors,” Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said in a statement. “Giannis is a great athlete, a world champion, and a true local hero with international renown.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined the Crew!
The two-time MVP is officially part of the Milwaukee Brewers ownership team. Thank you, Giannis, for your commitment to our team and Milwaukee!
@Giannis_An34 | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/3xRk2yNHrp— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 20, 2021
Just like other athletes in their off-season, Antetokounmpo is following in the footsteps of people like LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes who have ventured off to invest in and integrate themselves into the baseball world. Other young stars like Naomi Osaka have also invested in sports teams outside of her traditional tennis realm to stack her resume in the industry.
According to Antetokounmpo, he says the announcement is “unbelieveable” and that it’s “a dream come true for a kid from Sepolia, Athens, Greece, born from immigrant parents.”
As someone who has worked hard to rise to the top in the NBA, Antetokounmpo is now focused on building a legacy for himself bigger than basketball.
“The city of Milwaukee means so much to me,” he said after the announcement. “I am honored to be joining the Brewers ownership group to further my commitment and dedication to this great community. I take great pride in my city and I’m excited about what we can build together.”
“Milwaukee made me who I am today,” he continued in his statement. “I’ve become a father here. I’ve become a leader here. I’ve become a champion here, and I want to be involved. I want to be involved in the community as much as possible. I know Milwaukee invested a lot in me, and I want to invest a lot of me back into the city of Milwaukee.”