Giannis Antetokounmpo brought championship spirit, drive to Milwaukee
By Ryan Amundson, MMAC Sr. Director of Communications (and lifelong Bucks fan)
In a short video clip recorded soon after he was drafted with the 15th overall pick in 2013, reporters chuckled when a skinny teenager from Greece with a name most of us had a hard time pronouncing said he had his sights set on an NBA Most Valuable Player award. 
When looking at the big picture, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s two MVP trophies only scratch the surface of what he brought to Milwaukee and our region.
The future of professional basketball in our city was very much in question when Giannis arrived. An aging arena and a team short on success in the decades leading up to his arrival served as a recipe for relocation.
Fast forward more than a decade and the Bucks are here, a thriving entertainment district was built and a downtown was transformed, no doubt with the help of an 18-year-old kid from Athens.
While most NBA fans know Giannis as one of the most talented NBA players ever to play the game, it’s hard to think of an individual who has had a bigger impact on the city’s image and economic well-being than No. 34.
Perhaps the most obvious example is the Deer District – once the site of a freeway off-ramp and now home to one of Milwaukee’s premier gathering places, thanks to the development surrounding Fiserv Forum. It doesn’t matter what time of year, you’ll now find people enjoying themselves for concerts, dining, shopping and much more. Hundreds of thousands now visit downtown and spend their money here thanks to this development.
The world was introduced to the Deer District, and in many cases, the city of Milwaukee, in spectacular fashion around this time five years ago. Thousands celebrated the city’s first NBA championship in a half-century with an epic, 50-point performance from Giannis in Game 6 against the Phoenix Suns. The economic impact was palpable during the Bucks’ 2021 championship run. VISIT Milwaukee estimated it generated $57.6 million in economic activity for the region, including spending at hotels, restaurants, bars, retail stores and transportation providers. The NBA Finals alone accounted for roughly $28 million in economic impact.
Throughout his career, Giannis also served as one of the city’s best ambassadors. Kids and adults alike – from our city to Athens – wear Milwaukee across their chests when they don a Giannis jersey. In working to attract talent and investment, this exposure elevates our region to a global audience.
Simply put, Milwaukee’s identity will always be tied to Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s helped fuel economic activity, strengthened Milwaukee’s brand and created a sense of civic pride that few before him have.
Not bad for a lanky kid from Athens with a dream of playing professional basketball. When No. 34 is retired into the Fiserv Forum, we’ll all be there to welcome Giannis home.
