The Antetokounmpo brothers—Giannis, Thanasis, Alex, and Kostas—have become minority investors in Nashville SC, after they acquired a stake in the Major League Soccer side, as announced on Thursday.
That's right. We got the Antetokounbros.
Welcome N to the ownership group, @Giannis_An34, @Thanasis_ante43, @kostas_ante13 and @alex_ante29 ???? pic.twitter.com/K83Rz9Lp7j
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) March 2, 2023
Although the terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, the quartet of basketball stars led by Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis are joined by ice hockey player and the leading scorer in Nashville Predators history Filip Forsberg as new members of the team’s ownership group.
The two-time MVP Giannis, along with the eldest of the four brothers, Thanasis, explained the reasons for their decision to invest in the club while also highlighting their love for football.
“My father was a professional soccer player, and it was the first sport I fell in love with in Greece,” Giannis said. “I’ve always had the dream of owning a soccer team. When my brothers and I explored Nashville SC, we knew it was a team and a city that we wanted to get involved with. I couldn’t be more excited to join the Boys in Gold, and can’t wait to come to a match at GEODIS Park soon!”
“[Nashville] seems like a special place; there’s so much that’s up-and-coming,” Thanasis Antetokounmpo told ESPN over a Zoom call. “And we kind of had the same journey as well. Like, we’ve really fought to be in the big leagues, to be there, to be acknowledged, and somebody came and gave us an opportunity. And at the same time, for us to not only give the sport of soccer an opportunity to grow but [be known] overseas as well.
“I want people globally to know about Nashville and see the soccer team. So it’s a thing for us. It’s big.”
The Antetokounmpo family lost their father, Charles, in 2017, but before his demise, he played professional football in Nigeria and Germany. Likewise, their oldest brother, Francis, played professionally in Greece as well, and Thanasis said this investment is a way to honor their father’s memory.
“I know he’ll be so proud of us today, that this is happening,” Thanasis said about his father. “It’s not just the investment part of it. There’s a part of it that’s a legacy, that for us, it’s for generations to come that we’re part of this.”
Also on Thursday, the club’s principal owner, John Ingram, welcomed their new owners in a statement.
“Soccer is a global sport, and our newest owners once again reinforce our club’s commitment to being a global team,” he said.
“Filip and Giannis are not just amazing athletes — they are ambassadors for their respective sports, role models for millions and advocates in their hometowns and worldwide. We share a common belief that our teams not only play to the highest standards, but also lift up their communities and help those who need it most.”
The Antetokounmpo brothers and Forsberg join a number of sports stars who have recently invested in MLS teams. In 2020, two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant bought a 5% stake in the Philadelphia Union; James Harden (Philadelphia 76ers) also acquired 5% of the Houston Dynamo FC in 2019, while Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson purchased a stake in the Seattle Sounders FC some years ago.
They also add to the list of stars that have invested in Nashville SC, following the likes of actress Reese Witherspoon and her husband, Jim Toth, as well as Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry.
