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chemicalpoisons 's review for:
Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP
by Mirin Fader
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
The first, comprehensive biography ever published for Giannis Antetokounmpo is an enormous, collective project that featured over 200 interviews from various sources which were part of Giannis' life, from his early days as a teenager in Greece, all the way to the stardom of the NBA All Star games. There is no question regarding the painstacking research that went into this book, a fact which helps to highlight fervently certain aspects about its subject, and dissolve all doubt regarding it; Giannis worked his sweat off to reach the level of basketball he stands in, today.
The story begins with his life in Greece or, rather, his survival whilst living in it. Mirin Fader has no qualms about describing the systemic racism that is so embedded in Greeks, to this day. As a Greek myself, it was a bit hard but, ultimately, necessary to see how many of my fellow countrymen had treated a bunch of kids, an entire family, as something unworthy. I respect Fader, however, for not colouring these events with any disdain or hatred, but only reporting them in detail as to understand how hard it was for Giannis to rise above all. Above things that would make most children crumble or turn violent and hateful. Amidst all this, Fader never fails to mention all those Greek people who were instrumental in helping him flourish, survive, or were kind enough to just not let him starve. We have a long, long way forward, as a country, but it was nice to see that we have some people that look beyond skin complexion.
Another major element that Fader pays distinct importance to is the power and influence your own family can have on you. There isn't a chapter that doesn't mention Giannis' parents and/or brothers, as people for whom he always played his heart out, and for whom he learnt to work his hardest in order to achieve his dreams. Make no mistake about it; from the moment he set foot on American soil, Giannis' progress was based solely on the enormous work he put himself through to become better, stronger, worthy of the NBA level he wanted to excel at. On that note, he was, for me, incredibly lucky to land on the Bucks, a team that understood the need to let him slowly develop, a team that wasn't on an immediate championship hunt, a franchise that didn't drive him quickly to the ground by expecting more than he could possibly give as a late teenager.
The reason I give this book three stars is because I couldn't help but roll my eyes, or grow tired, at Fader's constant awe laced writing. Fawning constantly over things, even the smallest ones, that Giannis succeeded at, making dramatic remarks in every chapter, blowing things unnecessarily out of proportion. There is no way that every person who saw Giannis, in his eighteen year old scrawny form, could say that he saw something special in him. It's just unrealistic and crosses the line of exaggeration. Giannis' story is remarkable enough that it didn't need Fader's own emotions magnifying everything. On top of that, and because of one of Fader's past article on the youngest of the Antetokounmpos, she can't stop emphasising on the importance of family, and its values, in every single chapter. We get it; family is important to Giannis. The amount she spends, however, describing on how Alex Antetokounmpo keeps rising to meet the expectations of his brothers is not only constantly repeated, but borders on obsession. I can't help but feel that maybe Alex didn't want to be a basketball player, but his nepotistic legacy demands him to pick up the orange ball. I almost felt sad for him.
All in all, for someone who is a fan of Giannis Antetokounmpo, or just of a rags - to - riches story, this book offers a lot of insight into one of the most remarkable tales of one of the greatest, modern basketball players. It's just a shame that it couldn't be written by a more experienced writer, one who could keep his emotions in check, and not let his past, journalistic experience in... Bleacher Report influence their writing on what could have been an incredible biography to share.
The story begins with his life in Greece or, rather, his survival whilst living in it. Mirin Fader has no qualms about describing the systemic racism that is so embedded in Greeks, to this day. As a Greek myself, it was a bit hard but, ultimately, necessary to see how many of my fellow countrymen had treated a bunch of kids, an entire family, as something unworthy. I respect Fader, however, for not colouring these events with any disdain or hatred, but only reporting them in detail as to understand how hard it was for Giannis to rise above all. Above things that would make most children crumble or turn violent and hateful. Amidst all this, Fader never fails to mention all those Greek people who were instrumental in helping him flourish, survive, or were kind enough to just not let him starve. We have a long, long way forward, as a country, but it was nice to see that we have some people that look beyond skin complexion.
Another major element that Fader pays distinct importance to is the power and influence your own family can have on you. There isn't a chapter that doesn't mention Giannis' parents and/or brothers, as people for whom he always played his heart out, and for whom he learnt to work his hardest in order to achieve his dreams. Make no mistake about it; from the moment he set foot on American soil, Giannis' progress was based solely on the enormous work he put himself through to become better, stronger, worthy of the NBA level he wanted to excel at. On that note, he was, for me, incredibly lucky to land on the Bucks, a team that understood the need to let him slowly develop, a team that wasn't on an immediate championship hunt, a franchise that didn't drive him quickly to the ground by expecting more than he could possibly give as a late teenager.
The reason I give this book three stars is because I couldn't help but roll my eyes, or grow tired, at Fader's constant awe laced writing. Fawning constantly over things, even the smallest ones, that Giannis succeeded at, making dramatic remarks in every chapter, blowing things unnecessarily out of proportion. There is no way that every person who saw Giannis, in his eighteen year old scrawny form, could say that he saw something special in him. It's just unrealistic and crosses the line of exaggeration. Giannis' story is remarkable enough that it didn't need Fader's own emotions magnifying everything. On top of that, and because of one of Fader's past article on the youngest of the Antetokounmpos, she can't stop emphasising on the importance of family, and its values, in every single chapter. We get it; family is important to Giannis. The amount she spends, however, describing on how Alex Antetokounmpo keeps rising to meet the expectations of his brothers is not only constantly repeated, but borders on obsession. I can't help but feel that maybe Alex didn't want to be a basketball player, but his nepotistic legacy demands him to pick up the orange ball. I almost felt sad for him.
All in all, for someone who is a fan of Giannis Antetokounmpo, or just of a rags - to - riches story, this book offers a lot of insight into one of the most remarkable tales of one of the greatest, modern basketball players. It's just a shame that it couldn't be written by a more experienced writer, one who could keep his emotions in check, and not let his past, journalistic experience in... Bleacher Report influence their writing on what could have been an incredible biography to share.