4-year contract + 200,000 transfer fee! A crucial step in Antetokounmpo’s career, Bole’s past has left endless regrets

The NBA Finals came to an end. The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns with a total score of 4-2, standing on the top of honor again after 50 years. As the star of the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game, and was elected as the Finals MVP as he wished. On the road to the championship, Antetokounmpo has been accompanied by controversy, but no one can deny that this "Greek Freak" is already one of the greatest basketball players on the planet. If you look at Antetokounmpo in 2012 from today's perspective, you may not be able to imagine that the Zaragoza men's basketball team from Spain only spent 200,000 euros to sign this future superstar.

Back in the summer of 2012, the Zaragoza men’s basketball team was preparing for the 2012/13 season and was in urgent need of reinforcements to its lineup. Because the local elite were all divided up by wealthy and wealthy teams, then-director Willy Villar set his sights on the Greek market.

At that time, Antetokounmpo was playing for Filatritikos in the Greek sub-division league. Through the recommendation of his agent, his game video was handed over to Willy Villar. Although Antetokounmpo was still very thin at the time, his ability to break through with the ball and his offensive skills comparable to those of a shooting guard left a deep impression on Villar.

In fact, the quality of the game video was not good, but Villar was still able to identify the "different" Antetokounmpo at a glance: "I received an email from the Greek Youth League via email. The video, the picture quality is very bad, the definition is very low, but there is one kid who looks different, he is tall and thin, but he can dribble easily... I contacted his agent and I want to go in a week. Meet him.”

After that, Willy Villar went to Greece for a private meeting with Antetokounmpo. After watching Antetokounmpo’s private training and official games, he He believed that Antetokounmpo had great potential and was an unparalleled talent; he was determined to bring the Greeks to Zaragoza to play.

Recalling the scene at that time, Villar still vividly remembered: "We arranged a private training for him, and his performance surprised me to the point of being speechless. I was very excited at the time, and my legs were shaking. Trembling. A day later, he surprised me again, scoring 44 points and 8 rebounds against the youth team of Panathinaikos (a traditional Greek powerhouse), and then I told President Reynaldo Beni "To, we have to sign this kid."

After obtaining the consent of chairman Benito, Villar took the then coach Jose Luis Apos to the Italian town. Jesolo watched the Mediterranean Youth Championship, which included Antetokounmpo's Greek U20 national youth team, Italy, Croatia and Turkey.

During the tournament, coach Apos watched Antetokounmpo play in person for the first time. Just like Villar, he was also shocked by the super talent of the "Greek Freak". At that time, Antetokounmpo had already learned that he would sign with Zaragoza, and he was very excited about it. In October 2012, Zaragoza officially signed a four-year contract with Antetokounmpo, with a transfer fee of 200,000 euros.

Zaragoza signed an 18-year-old Greek star, which sparked heated discussions at the time. Many Spanish media were digging for Antetokounmpo’s information, and some NBA teams also Scouts were sent to scout the "Greek Freak." Everyone is familiar with the story that followed. In the 2013 draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick in the first round.

Because the original contract had a "draft buyout clause", Zaragoza could only watch Antetokounmpo being taken away by the Bucks. Although he received a buyout fee of 400,000 euros, But Villar still left endless regrets in his heart: "He was only 18 years old at the time. We thought he would play for Zaragoza for at least one season, but they decided to take him away immediately. Unfortunately, he He has never played for Zaragoza. Now, he is a world-class star and has a place in history. Players like him have only appeared in more than ten years."

Nowadays, Wei. Leigh Villar served as the sports director of the college men's basketball team, while Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was only 26 years old, led the team to defeat the Suns and achieve dominance. But no matter where "Antetokounmpo" goes, the "Zaragoza" label on him will not be erased: "When no one cared about him, it was Zaragoza who made the bet (on him). , such a reputation and such a label will follow the player into history. No one can deny that Zaragoza is a key step in his career, and he also expresses his gratitude and recognition.

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