'Rise' -- the story of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family's journey to the NBA -- a gripping tale of family, perseverance
Jul. 3—Years from now, fans in Milwaukee and those of Giannis Antetokounmpo worldwide might look back at the Bucks superstar's career and say it never got better than in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals.
It was a performance for the ages — 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a Game 6 close-out win over the Suns.
A few weeks earlier, Antetokounmpo suffered what looked like a gruesome knee injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Hawks. Antetokounmpo's knee buckled backward on the injury, and it appeared a few more inches his leg might snap.
Somehow, Antetokounmpo returned for the Finals. It was a storybook return, one made for Hollywood.
For Antetokounmpo and his family, Hollywood came calling. But there was a better story to tell. It's one fans should watch to understand the difficulty they faced.
That's because Antetokounmpo's return from the injury probably doesn't seem so unlikely when one understands what it took for Antetokounmpo and his family just to get to the United States.
"Rise" — a film about the struggles Antetokounmpo and his family faced trying to make a better life for themselves — debuted on Disney+ on June 24. It's nothing short of a lottery ticket winner. In many ways, Antetokounmpo is a modern day "Rocky."
Sons. Brothers. A family of champions
RISE, an all-new Original movie, starts streaming June 24 only on #DisneyPlus! pic.twitter.com/kNZX6uEsPu
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) May 10, 2022
The film about down-on-his-luck boxer Rocky Balboa was a smash-hit in 1976. The film's tagline — "His whole life was a million-to-one shot" — applies to Antetokounmpo.
"Rise" is about basketball, but it's about so much more. The sport is a plot device for the Antetokounmpo family as it strives to rise above poverty for a better life. The film is mostly about family.
Today's struggles for most surround the economy — gas prices, rising grocery bills, airline flight cancellation and inflation.
The Antetokounmpos had troubles that far outweigh those. For more than two decades beginning in 1990, the Antetokounmpos were forced into hiding in Greece after fleeing from Nigeria in search of better opportunities. Unable to get visas because of the country's political climate, the frustration continued while in Greece.
Antetokounmpo's father Charles tries to get documentation, and frustation boils over in one scene. He needs a visa to get a steady job but he cannot get that necessary job because he doesn't have a visa.
Giannis (played by Dayo Okeniyi) and his brothers Thanasis — the oldest and current teammate of his brother with the Bucks — Kostas and Alexandros are born in Greece but are not granted legal citizenship because of strict laws.
To make ends meet, the family sells trinkets on the streets of Greece. They are chased by immigration enforcement officers on several occasions. Giannis and his two younger brothers sleep in one bed. Their parents sleep on a couch.
There is also a fifth brother — Francis — but he was born before their parents fled to Greece. Francis and his grandmother remained in Nigeria, and it took 25 years for Francis to be reunited the rest of his family.
That's where Giannis' rise to NBA Draft prospect in 2013 — the same year the Cavaliers took Anthony Bennett No. 1 overall — turns the family's fortunes.
Those wanting an in-depth look at how Giannis rose from one of the most obscure draft picks in NBA history to a two-time MVP and NBA champion will be disappointed. Very little of his time in Milwaukee is in the film.
Still, there is plenty of basketball in "Rise" to satisfy a hoops junkie.
For those not well-versed in Giannis' basketball resume, it might seem shocking just how raw he was as a player. Thanasis was the more natural player and better NBA prospect.
Eventually, Giannis improves and becomes a touted prospect. This is where the odds appear really stacked against Giannis and his family. A team in Spain shows interest in Giannis but he is reluctant to join the team for fears if he leaves for another country, he will not see his family again.
Agent Paris Eleftheriou works out a deal for Giannis to have standing with the Spanish team. It's the only way Giannis is eligible for the draft. The next step is participating in a European camp for the 2013 draft. Giannis excels but there is a catch. If Giannis isn't drafted, he must leave his family and report to play for the Spanish team.
Draft buzz in New York City surrounding Giannis is up and down. Eventually, the Bucks select "The Greek Freak" with the 15th overall pick, and the family relocates to America.
There is a scene in "Rise" that's worth the 113-minute running time. While meeting with a Nike official with Thanasis and his agent, Giannis is asked why Nike should sign him.
"I used to borrow my brother's sneakers because we couldn't afford a second pair," said Giannis, with a tear running down his cheek. "I would sleep on a mattress in a gym so I could wake up and continue training ... We've hidden from the police our entire life because of where we live. On the outside looking in — in the country where we were born ... We're hungry because we know the meaning of the word sacrifice."
Those words perfectly sum up "Rise" — a tale of family and perseverance that shouldn't be missed.
