Greece national basketball team continue to navigate pre-tournament preparations without their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks but they are doing their best to hold the forth.
Aug 6, 2024; Paris, France; Greece small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks on against Germany during a menís basketball quarterfinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Aug 6, 2024; Paris, France; Greece small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks on against Germany during a men’s basketball quarterfinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Antetokounmpo’s absence was apparent in their first two pre-tournament game against Israel and Serbia as they lost big time in both instances.
It was a different result in the third one against Montenegro as they used a fourth quarter surge to pull off a 69-61 victory. The game was pretty much for anybody’s taking in the first three quarters. Montenegro, led by Nikola Vucevic who finished with 13 points, entered the fourth frame with a 6-point lead.
Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis’ squad went on a 24-10 run in the fourth led by Dinos Mitoglou who led everyone in scoring with 20 points. Antetokounmpo’s brothers Thanasis and Kostas also delivered some highlight plays to remember.
Showtime by the Antetokounbros 🇬🇷#EuroBasket x @hellenicbf pic.twitter.com/5gjw0Cl7yP
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 14, 2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo and brothers
Nov 23, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo (43), Chicago Bulls forward Kostas Antetokounmpo (37) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) pose for a picture after the game at Fiserv Forum. They are brothers. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Thanasis even posted a screengrab of that play, likening it to that one popular Lebron James-Dwyane Wade connection 12 years ago.
Oh, we’re going to have some fun with this EPIC photo. pic.twitter.com/dFFFeLeqCN
— Thanalysis Show (@ThanalysisShow) August 14, 2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo will play soon
Greece team will have their last friendlies with France on August 24. That might be the last and only friendly the Greek Freak will get to play.
He is barred from participating in Greece’s pre-tournament activities at the moment due to some monetary issues with his NBA team.
The Greek Basketball Federation already did their part to pay the insurance that is customary for international NBA players but according to EuroHoops, the matter is not yet solved.
bucks giannis antetokounmpo greece
Aug 6, 2024; Paris, France; Greece small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) runs onto the court before the game against Germany during a men’s basketball quarterfinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Per Eurohoops sources, due to his contract, the Bucks have to give their permission, because the insurance policy of FIBA, which is already taken care of by the Greek federation, doesn’t cover his full annual compensation in case of an injury. There’s a cap on the insurance contract, and Giannis, Jokic, and Doncic are some of the very few non-US players who are paid well over this limit.
Spanoulis, however, assured that the Bucks star will join them soon.
“As Spanoulis has already clarified, Giannis is following his own preparation program and he is expected to be ready when the official games start,” EuroHoops.net reported.
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