Four athletes are on the record as Arsenal fans. The biggest names are Giannis Antetokounmpo, who most recently played for the Miami Heat, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, and Dirk Nowitzki, who spent his career with the Dallas Mavericks. Jaylen Brown rounds out the list. The ties are split between two who have said it themselves and two where the claim comes through a published report.
Which athletes are Arsenal fans?
Antetokounmpo, Embiid, Nowitzki and Brown are the four. Antetokounmpo and Embiid are in the Confirmed group, meaning their own words were published. Nowitzki and Brown are Reported, so the evidence is an outlet's account of what they said. All four are basketball players, and the Premier League club is the only thing connecting them.
Who said it in their own words?
Giannis Antetokounmpo, born in Athens, Greece, is the clearest case. He told Goal in August 2023, "My favourite team used to be Arsenal and my favourite player used to be Thierry Henry. I am an Arsenal fan but I like PSG when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was here on the team. Deep down I am still an Arsenal fan." That quote is not an end to the fandom. His own closing line puts him in the present tense, and the dates note his fandom as running since childhood.
Joel Embiid, born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, is a different kind of source. He told Inquirer.com in January 2024, "I'm not even going to mention Arsenal because I don't want to be the reason why they lose." It is a superstitious aside rather than a declaration, but it places Arsenal in his sporting life and comes straight from him.
Which athletes are reported to be Arsenal fans?
Dirk Nowitzki, born in Würzburg, West Germany, is the older case. Dallas News (SportsDay) quoted his Men in Blazers podcast interview in May 2013, in which he said, "I like Arsenal. Obviously, they've got two Germans in. (Lukas Podolski) is my boy." The outlet carries the quote, so this is a reported tie rather than a statement he made in his own outlet. Nowitzki is now retired.
Jaylen Brown, born in Marietta, Georgia, is credited with the most detailed origin story. NBC Sports Boston reported in October 2024 the line, "And Gerard Pique, I grew up as a Barcelona fan before one of my mentors converted me to Arsenal." It is reported by that outlet, and it describes a switch of allegiance from Barcelona to Arsenal, with a mentor as the cause. Brown went to Wheeler in Marietta, Georgia, and has played for the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Which athletes grew up Arsenal fans?
Antetokounmpo is the one whose fandom is dated to childhood, and the history he gives is specific: Arsenal as his favourite team, Thierry Henry as his favourite player. Brown also describes his younger years in football terms, though he says he grew up a Barcelona fan and was converted to Arsenal later, so his Arsenal fandom did not begin in childhood by his own account.
Which athletes used to be Arsenal fans?
Giannis Antetokounmpo told Goal in August 2023, "My favourite team used to be Arsenal and my favourite player used to be Thierry Henry." He followed that with "Deep down I am still an Arsenal fan," so the line is not an end to his fandom, and he is still counted as a fan.
Famous Arsenal fans in basketball
By reach, Antetokounmpo, Embiid and Nowitzki are the best known, with Brown close behind.
Questions people ask
Which athletes are Arsenal fans?
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Dirk Nowitzki and Jaylen Brown. Antetokounmpo and Embiid said it in their own words, while Nowitzki and Brown are reported.
Which athlete is the most famous Arsenal fan?
On the record, Antetokounmpo is the one with the most direct statement of loyalty to the club, including the line "Deep down I am still an Arsenal fan."
Which athletes used to be Arsenal fans?
All four are current Arsenal fans. Antetokounmpo's "used to be" in his 2023 Goal interview applies to his favourite team and player, and he went on to say "Deep down I am still an Arsenal fan."
Famous Arsenal fans in basketball?
Antetokounmpo, Embiid, Nowitzki and Brown.