Greece meets Italy for their first assignment in Group D of EuroBasket 2025 and the latter’s biggest assignment is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar has been dominant in the last decade. Even the Most Dominant One, Shaquille O’Neal, is willing to give him the Superman title.
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Feb 16, 2020; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Shaquille O’Neal in attendance in the first quarter during the 2020 NBA All Star Game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Too bad for Italy, they don’t have Kryptonite. Their coach Gianmarco Pozzecco, however, knows one way to stop him. It’s something he can’t do. Nobody is allowed to.
He jokingly said that they’ll have to kill the Greek Freak.
Probably we will do this in the first quarter, so he will not play in the second, third, and fourth quarters. A friend of mine is a really good sniper. This is the only option that we have, I already talked about it with my staff. There’s no other option. To stop him is not possible.
Turning serious, Pozzecco said it will be their whole squad trying to stop not just Giannis but the rest of the Hellas.
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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
“We have to change this kind of mentality and to understand that it would be Italy versus Greece,” he said.
“He is unstoppable in the NBA, and you can imagine we can stop him here? No”.
No restrictions for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Italy and Greece met last week for a friendly that the Greek Freak had to sit out. Greece won that game.
Antetokounmpo’s absence was still part of his own preparations for the tournament.
The tourney is here and Pozzecco better bring out all his weapons. Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis said there will be no more restrictions for his star player.
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Jul 30, 2024; Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France; Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis reacts against Spain in a men’s basketball group stage match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
“Giannis can play as much as I want him to play, we are in the official games now and there’s no limitations any more”.
Italy-Greece battle will be held today at 2:30 p.m. ET.
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