Nigerian Parents Magazine (NPM) congratulates Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo on his 2021 NBA championship. Last night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ugo played one of the greatest games in NBA playoff history scoring 50 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns to become the 2021 NBA champions. The Bucks had not won this championship in 50 years. In 2020, Ugo won the MVP award and was named the 2020 NBA defensive player of the year. With that achievement, he joined another great Nigerian, Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan as the only three players in NBA history to win both awards in the same season.
Ugo’s parents are Nigerians who immigrated to Greece, where Ugo was born. He later moved from Greece to the United States. Ugo’s father Charles was a Nigerian Association football player, and his mother Veronica was a high jumper. Charles, who died in September 2017 at the age of 54 was Yoruba and Veronica is Igbo. Being an Igbo woman, Veronica gave all her children Igbo names, choosing Ugo for Giannis.
Please join NPM in congratulating Ugo on his championship. He worked very hard from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. He has kept the Nigerian light shining brightly. In his interview on NBA television, Giannis said that he is already looking forward to another championship—that is the Nigerian spirit.
Kostas Ndubuisi Antetokounmpo, Ugo’s brother, currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and won the 2020 NBA championship with that team. 9ja no de carry last.