Greece national basketball team are looking to win the EuroBasket 2025 for the first time since 2005. They have high hopes coming in to the tournament with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading them.
That hope should be tempered, at least according to FIBA.
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Jul 27, 2024; Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France; Greece head coach Vassilis Spanoulis looks on in the first half against Canada during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Media members released their take on the upcoming European basketball tournament and the consensus is that Nikola Jokic-led Serbia will win it all. Spain won the title in 2022. Serbia haven’t won Europe in its entire history.
As for Greece, they fell to fifth spot with 2.3 percent chance of winning the title, getting taken over by Latvia who they just beat on Wednesday.
The survey on which teams will make podium finish is also not that kind to Antetokounmpo and Greece. Serbia again take the top spot with 90.8 percent vote. Greece only got 13.1 percent.
Media members also think that Greece will be among the biggest disappointment in the tournament. Defending champions Spain take the top spot garnering 26.9 percent. Greece are second on the list with 15.4 percent.
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 mens basketball quarterfinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
This take is baffling as the press also listed Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo and Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis as the best coaches in the tournament with 14.4 percent and 13.6 percent votes, respectively. Serbia’s Svetislav Pesic is at the top spot with 34.4 percent.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is outside of Top 3 for MVP
Antetokounmpo showed a glimpse of how dominant he can be in a European competition with a 25/10 performance in 25 minutes against Latvia.
That will not matter for critics as they think Antetokounmpo will not be close to winning the MVP.
Media members said the Greek Freak will only finish fourth in the MVP selection. He is tied in that spot with five other players, getting a share of 2.4 percent. Jokic got an overwhelming 72.2 percent vote.
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Jul 27, 2024; Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France; Greece small forward Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against Canada small forward Dillon Brooks (24) in the second half during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis was the top scorer in the last edition with 29.3 ppg but this time, he might not get it. Fellow NBA superstar Luka Doncic (Slovenia) got 35.2 percent vote as the tournament’s future top scorer, followed by Lauri Markkanen (Finland) with 20 percent. Giannis is in third place with 16 percent vote.
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