{"id":79890,"date":"2024-06-02T05:51:04","date_gmt":"2024-06-02T09:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=79890"},"modified":"2024-06-02T05:51:04","modified_gmt":"2024-06-02T09:51:04","slug":"giannis-antetokounmpo-surprising-olympics-decision-after-late-season-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/06\/02\/giannis-antetokounmpo-surprising-olympics-decision-after-late-season-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"2-Time MVP Makes Surprising Decision After Late Season Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> wasn\u2019t able to play during the 2024 NBA Playoffs due to a calf strain<\/a> he suffered at the end of the regular season. The second straight postseason where he was affected by injury, Antetokounmpo\u2019s dwindling durability has been the source of some discontent. After the Bucks lost in the first round of the playoffs, the two-time MVP even noted that he \u201c(has) to do a better job of taking care of (his) body<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I have to even adjust my game,\u201d he considered. \u201c\u2026I\u2019m willing to do anything in order for me to be right there on the court and not let my teammates down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giannis Antetokounmpo Makes Surprising Decision After Late Season Injury<\/h2>\n

With those comments, it would be understandable if he was hesitant to commit to Greece this year. However, Antetokounmpo \u201cwill be present<\/a> with the national team in the Olympic Games Qualifiers,\u201d reveals Greek national team head coach Vassilis Spanoulis, per Eurohoops\u2019 Johnny Askounis.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo has represented Greece on several occasions. At the junior level, he played in U20 Euro Championship A in 2013. Promoted to the Senior Team the next year, he took part in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the 2015 EuroBasket Tournament, the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Italy, the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the 2021 European World Cup Qualifiers, and the 2022 EuroBasket Tournament. In total, he\u2019s played 40 games for Greece\u2019s national team, and 30 at the senior level.<\/p>\n

Breaking Down the Olympic Games Qualifiers<\/h3>\n

The 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament will take place<\/a> between Jul. 2-7. Greece will play the Dominican Republic on Jul. 3 and Egypt on Jul. 4. A top-two finish in Group B would lead to a single-elimination game against Group A\u2019s Croatia, Slovenia, or New Zealand in the Semifinals. If Greece should win their semifinal matchup, they\u2019ll either face the other team with a top-two finish in Group B in the Finals, or the team with a top-two finish in Group A.<\/p>\n

In preparation for the Olympic Qualifiers, Greece\u2019s men\u2019s national team is hosting exhibition games against Poland, Montenegro, and The Bahamas. Greece will face Poland on Jun. 21, Montenegro on Jun. 25, and the Bahamas on Jun. 27. Interestingly, Antetokounmpo wasn\u2019t pictured in a team photo taken on May 30, but one of his brothers (Kostas) was.<\/p>\n

\n

\u039f\u03b9 \u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03af \u03b1\u03b3\u03ce\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1\u03c3\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u0395\u03b8\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae\u03c2 \u03bf\u03bc\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1\u03c2 \u0391\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03ce\u03bd \u03b5\u03bd\u03cc\u03c8\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03a0\u03c1\u03bf\u03bf\u03bb\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03ac \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b8\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b5\u03be\u03b1\u03c7\u03b8\u03b5\u03af \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 2-7 \u0399\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf \u03a3\u03c4\u03ac\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf \u0395\u03b9\u03c1\u03ae\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03a6\u03b9\u03bb\u03af\u03b1\u03c2.https:\/\/t.co\/K2Y8JSdvDC<\/a> #FIBAOQT<\/a> #HellasBasketball<\/a> #PantaDipla<\/a> #AegeanAcropolisTournament<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hXRG26Foh5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hellenic Basketball (@HellenicBF) May 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n