The Mannings in football, the Williams in tennis, and the Pettys in NASCAR—some families excel in a sport like no other.
For the Antetokounmpos, basketball is the family business.
Take Giannis, for instance. He’s already an eight-time NBA All-Star and was named player of the week about 15 times. Thanasis, who was in the D-League, is now an NBA champion. Before that, he was named “Most Spectacular Player” in the Greek league not once but twice.
But is every Antetokounmpo brother a pro basketball player? In short, no.
The eldest brother, Francis Antetokounmpo, found fame in different avenues. Today’s article is about his life and his career choices!
Francis Antetokounmpo: Quick Bio
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I know you’re rushing to learn about Francis’ life, but let’s start with some basics first!
- Full Name: Francis Olowu Ofili Adetokunbo
- Birthdate: October 20, 1988
- Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
- Parents: Veronica (Vera) and Charles Antetokounmpo
- Siblings: Thanasis (b. 1992), Giannis (b.1994), Kostas (b.1997), and Alex (b. 2001)
- Residence: Athens, Greece
- Profession: Artist (current profession) and former professional soccer player
Get to Know the Eldest Antetokounmpo Brother a Bit Better
Alright, let’s get to it and jump into the fact list!
1. He’s the Only African-born Antetokounmpo Brother
If you’ve watched the NBA 2014 draft night, you’ll know the family has ties to Greece. After all, Thanais was holding the Greek flag when they called his name as the 51st pick.
Sure, Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo were born and raised in Nigeria. However, they immigrated to the Sepolia suburb in Athens in 1991. There, Vera gave birth to Athanasios (Thanasis), Giannis, Konstantinos (Kostas), and Alexandros (Alex).
What about Francis, you ask? He’s the only Antetokounmpo brother to be born in the family’s native Nigeria. He didn’t even immigrate with his parents in 1991. Instead, he stayed home with his grandmother on his father’s side and didn’t join the family until much later.
2. His Doesn’t Go by the “Antetokounmpo” Surname
Believe it or not, the Antetokounmpos weren’t initially called the Antetokounmpos. Their Yoruba name is Adetokunbo. However, the surname was misspelled as Antetokounmpo on the passport. Soon, the whole family started using the new last name.
That said, Francis still goes by his birth name. This is the name he chose to list on his Instagram profile. He also uses his middle name, Ofili, as a nickname/stage name.
Side Note: While Charles was a Yoruba, Vera was an Igbo from the South-East of Nigeria.
3. His Family Is Very Athletic
All four of Francis Antetokounmpo’s siblings are skilled basketball players. Three of them are already NBA champions, and the youngest brother is showing promise.
But it’s not just the Antetokounmpo boys. Athleticism runs in the whole family, mom and dad included!
Back in the day, Vera Antetokounmpo was interested in the high jump. Charles, however, was a pro-level soccer player in Nigeria.
4. He Followed in His Father’s Footsteps
In a way, all five Antetokounmpo boys are their father’s legacy. They overcame a humble upbringing and excelled in their chosen sport.
Francis’s chosen sport just happened to match his father’s. Francis was a midfield player who began his pro career with the Greek club AE Sparti in 2018. Later that year, he shifted to Aittitos Spaton (also a Greek club).
But, for unknown reasons, Francis Adetokounbo left Aittitos Spaton in 2019.
5. He Made His Music Debut in 2020
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Perhaps Francis’s retirement from soccer wasn’t such a terrible move. After all, he seems to be in a different industry: music.
The oldest Antetokounmpo brother has been interested in music since 2000, but it took him a while to make a career out of his passion. He released his debut single, Shekosi, in July 2020 and rebranded himself as Ofili.
His favorite genre? Most of his tracks lean towards hip-hop and rap.
6. Anthony Abiola played him in His Family’s Biopic
I don’t need to point out why the Antetokounmpos are a unique family. Many sports fans would like to know more about the boys’ upbringing and journey to fame. So, it was only a matter of time until someone took their story and made a dramatized film.
Enter the Rise Disney+ 2022 biopic.
You could say that the storyline focuses more on the championship trio (Thanasis, Giannis, and Kostas). The film also highlights the hardships that Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo had to overcome. However, there’s a bit about Francis Antetokounmpo’s life there, too.
Of course, the Antetokounmpos are represented by actors.
Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh from The Hunger Games) and Yetide Badaki (Chi Chi from This Is Us) play the parents. Meanwhile, Ral Agada, Uche Agada, Jaden Osimuwa, and Elijah Sholanke got the roles of Thanasis, Gannis, Kostas, and Alex, respectively.
Francis? He was played by Anthony Abiola, the actor from Part One of the B.M.Ts Plan B mini-series.
I forgot that Francis (or Ofili) contributed to the biopic with more than his story. The artist collaborated with the Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga on two official Rise soundtracks. Keep an ear out for the songs Rise and Obago when you watch the film!
7. He Is Still Honoring His Father’s Legacy (Along With His Four Brothers)
The boys have a lot of respect, love, and admiration for their parents, especially Charles, who died from a heart attack in 2017.
Since this is such a close-knit family, they decided the best way to go was to honor their late father’s name together. So, they launched a charity organization called the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation (CAFF) as a tribute to their dad.
The non-profit organization focuses on places important to the family. Think Nigeria, Greece, and the U.S. (especially Milwaukee, where their father lived and died).
Francis’ Siblings at a Glance
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Today’s article is all about Francis. I won’t dig too deep into the other four Antetokounmpos’ professional and personal lives. But a quick overview won’t hurt!
| Sibling | Birthdate | Team | Draft | Height |
| Thanasis | July 18, 1992 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2014, round 2, pick #51 | 6’ 7” |
| Giannis | December 6, 1994 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2013, round 1, pick #15 | 6’ 11” |
| Kostas | November 20, 1997 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2018, round 2, pick #60 | 6’ 10” |
| Alex | August 27, 2001 | P.A.O.K BC | Undrafted | 6’ 8” |
Side Note: The four siblings all play the forward position.
Final Thoughts on Francis Antetokounmpo’s Work
Francis Ofili Antetokounmpo followed his father’s footsteps when he became a pro soccer player.
He still honored his father’s legacy even though he shifted to the music industry. After all, that’s his voice on two of the Antetokounmpo biopic’s official soundtracks!
