Giannis Antetokounmpo is fouled by Pau Gasol at the United Center on January 5, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, has been given the nickname “The Greek Freak,” and it’s not difficult to understand why. In addition to towering over many of his opponents, Antetokounmpo’s hands are also significantly larger than virtually anyone he encounters on the court.
How much larger, exactly? Well, according to ESPN, each of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s hands is 12 inches. That’s when measured from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinkie; the average adult male’s hands are only 7.2 inches.
In addition, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s wingspan is 7-foot-3 inches. That’s four inches larger than his height, whereas the average adult man’s wingspan is only 2.1 inches larger than his height, according to Slate.
Last year, when President Barack Obama gave a speech in Milwaukee and met some members of the Bucks, he compared hand sizes with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the contrast was quite a thing to see.
Here’s Obama comparing hands with Giannis, which is presumably now Trump’s greatest fear in life.
ESPN personality Rachel Nichols also felt compelled to compare hand sizes with Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this year, and considering she is rather small, this was an even more dramatic contrast.
So one of our producers at #TheJump suggested that Giannis Antetokounmpo and I compare hand sizes.
It did not go well for me 😂😂😂
The same went for this photo in which blogger Payal Doshi compared hand sizes with Giannis Antetokounmpo:
Clearly, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s hand size gives him a huge advantage on the court. During the 2016-2017 season, Antetokounmpo became the first player in the history of the NBA to finish the regular season in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Originally born in Athens, Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo is just 22 years old. He’s currently on a three-year contract with the Bucks worth $8.6 million, according to Sportrac.