The ultimate NBA insider has found a new job again.

Early this morning, Shams announced that Giannis will definitely be on the Bucks roster next season. I wondered why Shams would release this news out of the blue, and shortly after, another message came that Giannis’s brother Thanasis would sign a guaranteed minimum deal with Milwaukee.

Is it surprising? It’s somewhat unexpected since the Bucks’ roster is almost full, so signing Giannis’s brother means they’ll have to cut someone before the season starts. But at the same time, it’s not that surprising because if you want to keep Giannis, signing his brother is probably the easiest and least troublesome way — just a minimum salary and a roster spot, that’s all.

Actually, Thanasis has been part of the Bucks’ long-term plans since 2019. The team has always kept a spot open for him. The only exception was last season because in May 2024, Thanasis suffered a severe Achilles tendon rupture that required a full year to recover, which is why he wasn’t on the Bucks’ roster last year.

During this recovery year, Thanasis has made good progress. In his recent European Championship debut, he shot 2-for-5, including 1-for-1 from beyond the arc, and made 1 of 2 free throws, finishing with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, posting the highest plus-minus of +10 on the court. Seeing Thanasis back in shape, the Bucks naturally offered him a contract.

Everyone knows Thanasis is considered an NBA “family connection” through Giannis, but I believe Giannis wouldn’t pressure the Bucks to secure a spot for his brother. The Bucks are quite skilled at handling such personal matters — just a minimal roster slot can keep Giannis happy, so why not?

In fact, Thanasis wasn’t purely a family beneficiary at the start. He played alongside his brother in the Greek league and both caught the attention of NBA scouts. They both declared for the draft, but Thanasis withdrew before the deadline, watching his brother get picked 15th overall.

In the 2013-14 season, Thanasis played in the Development League. In 2014, he was selected 51st overall by the New York Knicks. Considering Giannis was still a raw prospect then, the Knicks wouldn’t have picked Thanasis just because of his brother, which means Thanasis had proven some ability at that time.

Being Giannis’s brother, his basketball talent wasn’t far behind. Thanasis has solid physical fitness and athleticism, but his offensive skills were somewhat lacking. During his time with the Knicks, he mostly played in the Development League and earned a spot on the D-League’s All-Defensive Second Team.

After failing to find an NBA team in 2016, Thanasis signed with Andorra in Spain. In 2017, he returned to Greece to join the powerhouse Panathinaikos. Two years later, he secured a two-year contract with the Bucks, coinciding with Giannis’s peak years.

In his first season, Thanasis was essentially just a benchwarmer. However, in the Bucks' championship season, his second year, he became part of the rotation, playing 57 games with 3 starts, averaging about 10 minutes per game.

Offensively, he wasn’t remarkable, but his main contribution was defense. His outstanding physicality, athleticism, and relentless energy injected vitality into the Bucks’ defense. He could guard from inside to outside within a single possession, constantly switching assignments. As he put it, “The most important thing is to play my best, compete the right way, and show my abilities.”

From 2022 onward, Thanasis became purely the team’s morale leader, mostly appearing during garbage time. But even as the spirit guy, he’s top-tier: every Bucks basket, he stands up and cheers, while others might just clap sitting down—he genuinely rises for every single score.

If Giannis dunks, Thanasis jumps up to hype the crowd. Last season, he was sidelined with an Achilles tear but still attended Bucks home games, continuing to serve as an emotional booster, especially for his brother and the team.

NBA family connections have always existed because the league is not just a business but also a network of relationships. The Jazz signed Stockton’s son, the Blazers signed Lillard’s cousin for two consecutive years, and the well-known story of Doc Rivers trading to the Clippers to develop his son is widely known. Recently, the Lakers drafting Bronny was undoubtedly influenced by LeBron James.

But Bronny might be the most valuable family connection ever, bringing massive attention and jersey sales that cover his contract. Not to mention, LeBron was already taking a pay cut when Bronny was drafted.

Among all these family connections, Thanasis is definitely top-tier — not because he’s exceptionally talented, but because he remains tied to the team. Even after an Achilles rupture a year ago, the Bucks still keep a spot for him. For a small-market team like Milwaukee, keeping Giannis means that signing his brother is totally worth it.