“Anodos”: The actors who play Antetokounmpo talk to SKAI

Interview with Korina Georgiou

A film, shot in Athens, for the Antetokounmpo familywhich gave birth to Yiannis, Thanasis and Kostas – the first trio of brothers to win an NBA championship.

After immigrating from Nigeria to Greece, Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo (Dayo Okeniyi and Yetide Badaki, respectively) struggled to survive and provide for their five children while living under the daily threat of deportation. With their eldest son still living in Nigeria with relatives, the couple desperately wanted to obtain Greek citizenship, but their efforts were undermined by a system that blocked them at every turn. When they weren’t selling items to tourists on the streets of Athens with the rest of the family, brothers Yiannis (Uche Agada) and Thanasis (Ral Agada) were playing basketball with a local youth team.

Although late to the sport, they discovered their unique abilities on the court and worked hard to become world-class athletes, along with their brother, Kostas (Jaden Osimuwa). With the help of an agent, Giannis entered the 2013 NBA Draft in an unlikely prospect that would change not only his life but the lives of his entire family. In the 2020-2021 season, Giannis and Thanasis contributed the most to the Milwaukee Bucks winning their first championship in 50 years, while Kostas played for the previous season’s champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.

THE Uche and Ral Aganda, the two brothers who play Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo respectively, spoke exclusively to Korina Georgiou and SKAI shortly before the official premiere of the film “Anode” at the stadium of Triton in Sepolia.

You are two brothers in real life who play two brothers, the Antetokounmpo brothers. So what made you want to join this film? It all started with an Instagram post, right?

UTSE AGANDA
Actor (Yiannis Antetokounmpo)
Yeah, one day I was lying in bed scrolling through Instagram and I see a picture of a tweet from John saying that Disney is making a movie about him and his life and they’re looking for people to play him and his brother. And so I said, why not, why not give it a shot? What’s the worst that can happen? And then I sent a tape of myself. A few months went by and then I had a conversation with the director, and then another conversation, and finally I found out I got the part. They then asked me if I have any siblings and I told them I have an older brother…

RAL AGANDA
Actor (Thanasis Antetokounmpo)
When he took me to tell me I was surprised because I was just happy for him to be the star of a Disney movie. That’s crazy, right? And so I start filming myself and it was really bad (the result), at least in my eyes and I didn’t even intend to send it. I told my mother I’m not sure I want to do this. And she said to me “Are you crazy? This is going to change your brother’s life. You should at least try.” And I answered her that she is absolutely right. So I asked him to help me, we shot it a few more times, sent it back and they loved it. Right after that, the distribution manager, Randy Hiller, picked us up and told us that we would go to Hawaii to get our passports and then go to Greece! It was crazy!

How difficult was it without any previous acting experience to get into the role?

UTSE AGANDA
Actor (Yiannis Antetokounmpo)
We did a lot of research on the family, where they grew up, how they grew up. We were here in the very places where they grew up, we saw them with our own eyes and that definitely helped.

Did you spend time with family?

RAL AGANDA
Actor (Thanasis Antetokounmpo)
Thanasis and Giannis were competing in the championship, so they didn’t have much time, they were focused on their work. You have to respect that. But Francis gave us a tour of Sepolia and showed us some nice places and the area where they grew up.

RAL AGANDA
Actor (Thanasis Antetokounmpo)
I can identify with Thanasis in that he is the older brother trying to be a positive example for his younger siblings. This is my only younger brother.

UTSE AGANDA
Actor (Yiannis Antetokounmpo)
I would say (I relate) to the support they give each other, because you just want to see the whole family doing well. We have that, we see each other accomplish something incredible. So this was fantastic.

I know you are also from Nigeria. Have you personally experienced racism and the feeling of being on the fringes of society?

RAL AGANDA
Actor (Thanasis Antetokounmpo)
Yes.

How did you manage to overcome it?

RAL AGANDA
Actor (Thanasis Antetokounmpo)
It’s still a daily battle, especially back at our house. You just persist.

UTSE AGANDA
Actor (Yiannis Antetokounmpo)
I wouldn’t say we faced (racism) and it affected our lives the way it affected Antetokounmpo’s life. Think when you’re the only tall one you can’t hide when you walk, you know what I mean. Of course, where we live we also met people who were not so nice… You just try to ignore these people and move on.

What do you admire most about Giannis and Thanasis?

UTSE AGANDA
Actor (Yiannis Antetokounmpo)
I admire the hard work, dedication and concentration this man has. His perseverance to get from where he started to where he is now despite the obstacles is amazing, it’s hard to even believe.

RAL AGANDA
Actor (Thanasis Antetokounmpo)
I would say their humility too. They are so successful, yet so humble.

Was this an inspiration, a motivation for you too?

UTSE AGANDA
Actor (Yiannis Antetokounmpo)
For sure. I know that this opportunity is not given to everyone, it only happens once in a lifetime. I, therefore, try to take advantage of it to the maximum extent possible.

I would like you to tell me what was your best experience in Athens.

RAL AGANDA
Actor (Thanasis Antetokounmpo)
Oh, that’s a tough one, there are so many great ones!

Something you will never forget!

RAL AGANDA
Actor (Thanasis Antetokounmpo)
Maybe the yacht party!

UTSE AGANDA
Actor (Yiannis Antetokounmpo)
I would say just walking the streets of the city and looking at the buildings. They are so different from America…

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