"He can't function": Jeff Teague explains Giannis Antetokounmpo's connection with brother Thanasis

Giannis Antetokounmpo has always been vocal about the importance of family and how they were everything to him. Further adding proof in the pudding was his former teammate Jeff Teague who explained the connection between the Milwaukee Bucks star and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who also plays for the Bucks.

Speaking to Draymond Green on the 'The Draymond Green Show' podcast, the guard shared an incident about the Antetokounmpo brothers that left Giannis shaken in 2021.

"[Thanasis Antetokounmpo] had Covid. So he couldn’t come to the plane. That’s why we were down 0-2. Giannis was messed up, like him & his brother. They got some different kind of connection. He can’t function [if he doesn't see him].”

Thanasis was listed as out with COVID illness during the NBA Finals, and his absence, according to Teague hit Giannis hard. But in the end, the Bucks emerged victorious beating the Phoenix Suns 4-2. This had Giannis Antetokounmpo, his brother, and Teague winning their maiden NBA title.

As for Teague, 2021 was his last season in the league. In his final season with Milwaukee, he played 21 regular season games averaging 6.6 points 2.8 assists, and 1.5 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per contest.

An NBA journeyman, the guard was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2009 and later had stints with the Indiana Pacers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, and another run with the Hawks, He plied his trade for the Boston Celtics before suiting up for the Bucks.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo had a special sneaker for the All-Stars to show tribute to his brother Thanasis

This past season, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a special message for his brother, Thanasis during the All-Star Weekend. The 2x MVP sported red and white Kobe 4s with a wholesome message that said, "Thanasis, thanks for sharing.”

The message also serves as a memory of how Giannis and his brothers went from rags to riches. Growing up, the Antetokounmpo family was so financially challenged that the duo could not afford to have a pair of shoes for each of them. Thanasis would let his younger brother Giannis his white and red Kobe 4s.

On the season front, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks made the playoffs but suffered a first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers. As for Thanasis Antetokounmpo, a torn Achilles cut short his season, He played 34 games for the Bucks last season, averaging 4.6 minutes per game while shooting 53% overall.