Giannis Antetokounmpo Signed A HUGE Deal With WhatsApp

The NBA professional Giannis Antetokounmpo has signed a lifetime contract with the leading instant messaging app WhatsApp.

Antetokounmpo who is known in Nigeria as “Adetokumbo” became the first-ever global partner with Mark Zuckerberg-owned app, Whatsapp on Sunday.

What Giannis said about WhatsApp:

• “Throughout my life, WhatsApp has kept me connected to my loved ones, my friends, my communities, and everyone important to me.
• It’s a link to my home in Greece and a link to my family roots in Nigeria.
• Having easy access to my communities has helped build me into the person and athlete I am today, and working with WhatsApp—a messaging service that I use every day to stay connected with family—is important to me.
• I look forward to building on this partnership together.”

What WhatsApp said about Giannis.

In a statement by WhatsApp head of global brand and integrated marketing Vivian Odior said:

• “Giannis’ success is fueled by the deep relationships he has in his life, and it’s been an honor to hear that WhatsApp has helped keep those relationships strong throughout the years.
• We’re excited for Giannis to be WhatsApp’s first global brand partner.
• Giannis is one of the billions of people who use WhatsApp every day to stay connected with friends and family, and his story is a perfect example of why we do what we do every day.”

The Greek-Nigerian Adetokumbo said:

• “Those who know my story know that I’m Greek and Nigerian: I was raised in Greece, but my roots are Nigerian.
• Growing up, the best way I could connect to my family in Nigeria was through WhatsApp.
• As humans, we’re a collection of experiences, and learning about where I came from has kept me close to my identity as I continue to evolve as an athlete and person.”

The 27-year-old Milwaukee Bucks playmaker Giannis Antetokounmpo wore a +234” Nigeria hoodie and he got “Adetokunbo” on the back to promote brand partnership with WhatsApp.

The corduroy chenille hoodie was designed by Niyi Okuboyejo.

It features Antetokounmpo’s jersey number, 34, converted to +234, the international calling code for Nigeria, and the back features his family name, Adetokunbo, meant as a nod to the type of connections fostered by the Meta-owned messaging application.

What Niyi Okuboyejo said:

• “If you have ever been to Nigeria, you understand that we move and communicate via WhatsApp.
• As a Nigerian-American designer, it was an incredible honor to collaborate with Giannis and WhatsApp.
• Giannis represents a pinnacle of excellence in our community and our commitment to thrive.
• The hoodie is an ode to our Nigerian roots, inspired by the Nigerian flag.
• This was a collaboration between myself, Giannis, local Nigerian dye artisans, and Nigerian tailors, all connected through WhatsApp.”

Check out the photos below.