Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo blew off his offseason rust with a dominating performance in his first summer preparation game ahead of FIBA EuroBasket 2025. Giannis led Greece to a 104-86 win against Latvia at the ongoing Acropolis Tournament in Athens.
It took just 15 minutes for the Bucks star to unleash his fury against Latvia on the court. In the first quarter, he converted the baskets for seven straight points, sparking a dominant start for Hellas which saw them take a 13-point lead. By halftime, he had 20 points and 8 rebounds in just 10 minutes, with Greece up by 61-45.
Though Latvia cut down the lead to 10 in the third quarter, Giannis' double-double impact turned to be just too much for them. The "Greek Freak" finished the game with 25 points (on 9-of-12 shooting), accompanied by 10 rebounds. Notably, Giannis converted 7-of-9 free throws along with two steals and two blocks in just 15:18 minutes.
Here are some highlights from the game:
🇬🇷 Giannis erupts for 25 PTS & 10 REB in his summer debut as Greece defeats Latvia in #EuroBasket preparation game@NBA | @Bucks | @HellenicBF
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 20, 2025
Giannis' participation in EuroBasket faced unexpected delays
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic are two of the biggest NBA stars expected to feature for their respective national teams at EuroBasket 2025. While the former was cleared for the friendly matches, his participation had initially faced delays due to insurance issues.
Actually, this is because FIBA’s coverage doesn’t fully protect high-salary NBA players like him. According to Basketball Network, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Greek federation are arguing over his participation terms.
EuroBasket 2025 will take place from August 27 to September 14. Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Poland will be hosting the games before the final phase, which will unfold in Riga. Giannis' Greece is in Group C and will have to compete against teams like Spain, Italy, Georgia, Bosnia and Cyprus.