Giannis Antetokounmpo, the standout player for the Milwaukee Bucks, is well-known for his journey out of poverty. From peddling timepieces on the streets of Athens, Greece, The Greek Freak rose to become a global celebrity, a two-time NBA MVP, an NBA Champion, and among the highest-paid players in the league.
He is not the only Bucks player, though, who has succeeded in the NBA despite overwhelming odds and destitution. MarJon Beauchamp, a third-year forward, also overcome some tremendous obstacles to reach his current status.
Milwaukee Bucks Forward MarJon Beauchamp Had a Period of Homelessness.
Beauchamp had to face numerous challenges both as a child and during his NBA career. He attended multiple high schools in an attempt to fulfil his dream of becoming an NBA player. He had been homeless as a youth once.
At Dream City Christian School in Arizona, Beauchamp established himself before coming back to Washington state to complete his high school education at Eisenhower. He declined many Division I scholarships in order to participate in an NBA player preparation programme. Unfortunately, this programme had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
As an alternative, Beauchamp spent a year as a student at Yakima Valley College, where he averaged 30.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest. He then became a G League player.
The Seattle Times revealed on Tuesday that Beauchamp, a Native American, made history by being the first NBA player to ever host an All-Native basketball competition. Teams from various US states as well as Canada participated. According to the Seattle Times:
Beauchamp remarked, “It’s just bigger than basketball.” “I really feel in my heart that my purpose for being here is to inspire people. As a child, I recall lacking self-belief and hope, and I never imagined that I would find myself in this situation. All I want to do is give these kids the resources I have, and be that hope for them. All I want to do is convince them.