Run and dunk is what haters want to throw at Giannis Antetokounmpo. That his arsenal is limited. Lauri Markkanen has a totally opposite take on the Milwaukee Bucks star.
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Jan 8, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The Utah Jazz star is representing Finland in EuroBasket 2025. His country in Group B while Antetokounmpo’s Greece is in Group C. They will not meet in the group stage but there’s a chance if they advance to the next round.
FIBA website asked the stars of the tournament about Giannis and Markannen pointed to the Greek Freak’s trickiness with the ball.
“Giannis is really difficult to play one-on-one,” he said.
“You kind of load up on him and try to make him get rid of the ball. But he can do so many things on the floor. You can do your scouting report and try to take something away but I feel like he has some tricks in his bag that makes it really hard to guard.”
Giannis, James Harden
Oct 24, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second half at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Run and dunk tag on Antetokounmpo was first made famous by James Harden when they were battling for the MVP award in 2020. He debunked it many times already by finishing in the Top five of scoring since 2019.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece are ready for EuroBasket
Greece dropped their last friendly against France to finish with a 4-3 record in pre-tournament games.
Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis is unfazed. He does not think the friendlies will determine their fate in EuroBasket that will start on August 27.
“I don’t want to be a champion in friendlies,” he said.
“And I’m not interested in avoiding any team in the crossovers. I believe we have the size and ability to cope with every situation.”
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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
Greece are prepared and have finalized their roster shortly after the loss. Giannis is joined in the line up by his brothers Thanasis and Kostas.
Other players who made it to the Greece team are Tyler Dorsey (naturalized), Giannoulis LarentzakisPanagiotis Kalaitzakis, Kostas Sloukas, Dimitrios Katsivelis, Dinos Mitoglou, Vasileios Toliopoulos, Kostas Papanikolaou, and Alexandros Samodurov.
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