Giannis Antetokounmpo’s meteoric rise to stardom since his entry into the NBA in 2013 has been nothing short of special.
The man known as the Greek Freak for his ridiculous size and otherworldly athleticism has had a fairytale career and has sported numerous haircuts along the way.
Antetokounmpo started his NBA career with a bald look. He then grew his hair out into a high-top fade and went with a mohawk at times.
However, the Greek Freak has had sponge twists for most of his NBA Journey. Read on to learn more about how Giannis Antetokounmpo’s haircuts have changed over the years.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Hairstyles Over the Years
The 2021 NBA champion and Finals MVP has gone with various haircuts. Here’s a compilation of them all:
1. Bald Haircut
Antetokounmpo came into the league as a virtually unknown prospect from Greece. He was a skinny 18-year-old that the Milwaukee Bucks took a chance on with the 15th pick purely based on his potential.
His humble beginnings were reflected in his haircut. Giannis went with a simple bald look. In hindsight, this haircut symbolized the roots from which his legend, and his hairstyles, would evolve.
Antetokounmpo stayed with this look from 2013 until 2016 when his elite skillset really started to show.
2. High-Top Fade
As Giannis’ game quickly developed over his first three years in the league, the Bucks realized that the risk they took in 2013 was starting to pay off.
The organization went all in on the young player, making him the face of the franchise. Not only did Antetokounmpo want to play the part, but he also wanted to look the part.
As a result, he decided to grow out his hair and rock a high-top fade. This is when the Greek Freak’s personality really started to show.
He also solidified himself as one of the most versatile players in the league both offensively and defensively.
His performance during the 2016-17 season earned him his first of many All-Star appearances.
3. Mohawk
Another haircut that Antetokounmpo has rocked is the mohawk. At times, he’s let the hair on the back of his head grow out.
This, along with the high fade on the sides, resulted in a mohawk look that went perfectly with his aggressive, high-octane style of play.
There were few sights more intimidating than Giannis with a mohawk staring down a defender after viciously dunking on him.
Ironically, the most notable NBA stars to rock a mohawk include James Harden who has a highly-publicized rivalry with Antetokounmpo.
4. Sponge Twists
Last but not least, we have Antetokounmpo’s signature sponge twists. This variation of the high-top fade is the haircut that Giannis has gone with since he became an established superstar.
Like his mohawk, the Greek Freak’s twists match his play style. Antetokounmpo always tries to obliterate any opponent that stands in his way on the court. He’s like a shark stalking his prey and the pointy sponge twists are like his fins.
Giannis’ sponge twists have been with him through the most significant moments of his career. He had them when he won two straight MVP awards in 2018-19 and 2019-20 and the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019-20.
The Greek-Nigerian superstar also rocked his signature sponge twists during the 2020-21 season. That year, he led the Bucks to their first championship since 1971 and won the Finals MVP award.
How to Get Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Sponge Twists
If you have afro-textured hair, you can easily style it like Antetokounmpo. This style works best with 4A, 4B, and 4C hair types that coil tightly.
We advise you to only style your hair that way if it isn’t very long. You’ll need a hair sponge, which you can get online or from a local store.
Spray some water on your hair until it’s damp, and apply your preferred styling product to the sponge. Next, move the sponge in a circular motion all over your hair to get it twisted up. To get a cleaner look, go to your barber and get a fresh lineup.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the premier talents in the NBA. People mention him in the same breath as legends like Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. Since his entry into the league in 2013, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s haircuts have varied over the years.
He started his career with a bald head. As he became more comfortable and confident, he transitioned to a high-top fade. Additionally, the Greek Freak has gone with a mohawk at times. However, Giannis’ signature haircut is sponge twists.
It feels like Giannis has been in the league forever, but he’s still only 28 years old. The surefire Hall of Famer still has many years to go, and we can’t wait to see what haircuts he rocks next.