Giannis takes to Instagram to support brother Thanasis, who was a target of racist comment

Just past midnight Thursday, following the Milwaukee Bucks' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo took to Instagram to respond to a recent racial slur directed toward his older brother Thanasis.

Thanasis, 26, plays basketball in Greece for Panathinaikos. Last Friday, his team defeated Olympiakos, 93-80, with Thanasis scoring 12 points, including a high-flying, put-back dunk.

In the aftermath of that game, Greek television personality and Olympiakos fan Takis Tsoukalas called the elder Antetokounmpo a “monkey” on his TV show. That comment reportedly has led to him being sued by two anti-racism groups in Greece and prompted the country's National Council for Radio and Television to summon him for further questioning. Tsoukalas has denied intending his remarks in a racist manner, according to a statement.

The Antetokounmpo family is of Nigerian and Greek heritage. Giannis and Thanasis' parents, Charles and Veronica, emigrated from Nigeria to Greece, where Thanasis, Giannis and their younger brothers Kostas and Alex were born.

Giannis grappled with the decision to speak out publicly in support of his brother, but decided to do so Thursday in an Instagram post written in his native Greek.

According to a translation by Eurohoops.net, the post read as follows:

“Above everything, Thanasis I want to apologize to you. Because I know that what I’ll write will attract attention to you, which is something I know you don’t want. However, I’m sure that if dad was here, he would be very disappointed if I chose to keep quiet.

"I’ve lost sleep the past days because of the racist incident which took place recently. If this could happen to Thanasis, who proudly represents the Greek National Team and Panathinaikos always having a smile, then I can’t imagine what happens to other people of color in Greece. I am deeply saddened and disappointed.

"However, we must not let negative comments alter our family and our love for the country in which we grew up. I and my brothers are Greek/Nigerians and that’s it. We will continue to represent our home country in the best way possible."