Giannis Antetokounmpo will once again suit up for his national team this summer. Brothers Thanasis and Kostas are also on the EuroBasket roster.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will suit up for the Greek national team for the second consecutive summer, this time for the EuroBasket tournament.
In the summer of 2024, Antetokounmpo led Greece to its first Olympic Games in men’s basketball since 2008. Greece last won EuroBasket, the top international tournament in Europe, in 2005. It last medaled in 2009 (bronze).When healthy, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar typically suits up for his national team.He has also played in 2014 (World Cup), 2015 (EuroBasket), 2016 (Olympic qualifying), 2017 (EuroBasket qualifying before pulling out with a knee injury), 2019 (World Cup) and 2022 (EuroBasket).
Antetokounmpo did not play for Greece in the summer of 2023 in World Cup play as he underwent a surgery on his left knee.
Heading into this summer, he has played 37 FIBA games and averaged 19.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
Historically, when Antetokounmpo returns to NBA competition after playing in Europe he puts together a great season:2014: Started 71 games and improved in nearly every statistical category in averaging over 31 minutes per game.
2015: Averaged career-high 16.9 points per game, shot 50% from the field for first time.
2016: Won Most Improved Player after making his first all-star team, averaged 22.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
2019: Averaged a career-high 29.5 points per game en route to his second straight MVP and capturing the Defensive Player of the Year award.
2022: Averaged a career-high 31.1 points per game.
2024: Averaged 30.4 points per game while shooting 60.1% from the floor and tied a career-best with 6.5 assists per game.
“I’m telling you: It’s harder to play in Europe than it is in the NBA,” Antetokounmpo said last season. “There’s more space. You can operate easier here. And when you get used to playing with that type of space; there’s more strategy, it’s slower pace, less possession, and if you’re able to be effective there and you come here – I don’t want to disrespect anybody – like it’s not easier, the players, their talent level is higher, but the way you operate and the reads, easier because there’s more space. That’s what I think and so far, I’ve been right.”
Thanasis and Kostas Antetokounmpo will also play for Greece
One of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s younger brothers, Kostas, will also play for the national team. He missed the Olympics, however, with an injury suffered in qualifying.
An all-state player for Dominican High School, Kostas Antetokounmpo signed a two-year deal with Olympiacos Piraeus of the Greek League. He spent last season playing for Panathinaikos (Greek League) and UCAM Murcia (Spain).
Thanasis Antetokounmpo will also play for Greece, marking his return to competition after he missed the entire 2024-25 NBA season following a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the spring of 2024. He also missed the Olympic Games due to the injury after having played on various national teams since 2016.
He is an unrestricted free agent.
What is Greece’s schedule?
Greece has seven “friendlies” scheduled through August to prepare for EuroBasket.
Here is that schedule:
- Aug. 6: Greece vs. Belgium
- Aug. 9: Greece vs. Serbia, ECOMMBX Cup
- Aug. 10: Greece vs. Israel, ECOMMBX Cup
- Aug. 14: Greece vs. Montenegro
- Aug. 20: Greece vs. Latvia, Acropolis Tournament
- Aug. 22: Greece vs. Italy, Acropolis Tournament
- Aug. 24: Greece vs. France
EuroBasket is set to tip off on Aug. 27, and the group stage matches will take place in Latvia, Finland, Cyprus and Poland while the knockout rounds will be played in Riga, Latvia. The knockout stage is single elimination featuring 16 teams. There will be a bronze medal game for the losers of the semi-final games.
What is EuroBasket?
EuroBasket is a tournament that is commonly called the European Basketball Championship, a tournament that means a great deal for participating countries overseas. It features the senior men’s national teams of 24 countries that qualify, and the tournament is governed by FIBA Europe.
The summer of 2025 marks the 90th anniversary of the tournament, which began in 1935. It is now a quadrennial tournament, after being held biannually from 1935-2017.Spain is the defending champion, winning in 2022 (the tournament was postponed a year due to the global coronavirus pandemic).
Games played under FIBA rules are different, as they are just 40 minutes long and played on a smaller court, players foul out with their fifth foul, the 3-point line is shorter, players must shoot free throws within five seconds, there is no defensive three seconds rule and goaltending is allowed.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will play for Greece in EuroBasket
Category: Basketball
