Giannis Antetokounmpo called it when news first broke that Lionel Messi was moving to the United States.
Sort of, anyway.
Back in June, the Bucks star welcomed Messi to Major League Soccer and said that he'd see him in Nashville. Two months later, Antetokounmpo's tweet came true: Messi's Miami will face Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final on Saturday, Aug. 19.
Antetokounmpo doesn't play for Nashville SC, of course. The 28-year-old is one of the biggest stars in the NBA and is in the prime of his basketball career. He is, however, part of an ownership group of Nashville FC.
Here is everything you need to know about Antetokounmpo's stake in the MLS team.
MORE: Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing for Greece at FIBA Basketball World Cup?
Giannis Antetokounmpo Nashville FC ownership, explained
On March 2, 2023, Nashville FC announced that Antetokounmpo had joined the team's ownership group.
Antetokounmpo was joined by his brothers, Thanasis, Kostas and Alex, each of whom are also professional basketball players. Thanasis is a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, Kostas currently plays overseas and Alex spent last season playing in the G League with the Wisconsin Herd.
The brothers' father, Charles Antetokounmpo, was a professional soccer player in Nigeria and Germany.
“My father was a professional soccer player, and it was the first sport I fell in love with in Greece,” said Giannis Antetokounmpo. “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!”
That's right. We got the Antetokounbros.
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) March 2, 2023
Welcome N to the ownership group, @Giannis_An34, @Thanasis_ante43, @kostas_ante13 and @alex_ante29 🏀 pic.twitter.com/K83Rz9Lp7j
The Antetokounmpo brothers joined a star-studded Nashville FC ownership group that features actress and producer Reese Witherspoon and NFL running back Derrick Henry. It's unclear what the Antetokounmpos' stake in the team is compared to others.
Nashville FC began playing in MLS in 2020. The team's best finish to date came in 2021 when it had the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, totaling 12 wins, four losses and 18 draws.
NBA players with MLS ownership
Antetokounmpo isn't the first NBA player to invest in an MLS team.
In 2019, James Harden, who was a member of the Houston Rockets at the time, joined the ownership group of the Houston Dynamo. A year later, NBA superstar Kevin Durant became a minority owner of the Philadelphia Union.
"I've been a fan of the sport, and then seeing how fast the popularity of the league was growing, seeing more fans pop up in different cities around the country, and then seeing how these franchises impact the city's businesses and people individually was very intriguing," Durant told ESPN.
Additionally, Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade joined the ownership group of Real Salt Lake in 2022.
Thankful 🥅 ⚽️ https://t.co/hbKjGjJXnv
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) January 6, 2022
Giannis Antetokounmpo's career earnings, net worth
Since being selected with the No. 15 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Antetokounmpo has established himself as an all-time great. In addition to being a seven-time All-Star, he's a two-time MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year, one-time champion and one-time Finals MVP. In 2022, he was one of 11 active players at the time to be named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.
Antetokounmpo is currently on a five-year, $228.2 million contract with the Bucks. At the end of his current contract, his career earnings in the NBA will reach $335.2 million.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Antetokounmpo's current net worth to be $70 million in 2023.
