Jul 16, 2026; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) speaks to reporters during his introductory press conference at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jul 16, 2026; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) speaks to reporters during his introductory press conference at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s move to the Miami Heat was one of the landmark trades of this year’s offseason. Given how the NBA’s landscape shifted after this transaction, the Heat certainly stood to benefit from the 10-time All-Star’s addition.
While Miami has every reason to celebrate Antetokounmpo’s arrival, several other parties have been gravely affected by this move. The Milwaukee Bucks may be the team that immediately comes to mind, but the Greek men’s national basketball team could also suffer because of the trade.
In a recent update from Sport24.gr, it was revealed that Giannis Antetokounmpo would not represent Greece in the upcoming games of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, instead prioritizing training with the Miami Heat at the team’s request.
“ Giannis Antetokounmpo will not represent Greece during the upcoming August window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers, according to Sport24.gr,” reported Basket News.
“The Greek superstar has been playing basketball since March 15, and his new NBA team, the Miami Heat, has not reportedly given its consent for him to participate in the upcoming international games due to concerns over his workload and the possibility of injury. Miami’s cautious approach comes at the beginning of a new chapter for Antetokounmpo.”
To some extent, Miami’s concerns are justified. Although Giannis Antetokounmpo is a generational talent and remains one of the most dominant players in the league when healthy, the superstar has struggled with availability lately.
Last season, Antetokounmpo only appeared in 36 games after being sidelined with recurring soft-tissue injuries, primarily right calf strains. He managed to return from this, but in an unfortunate turn of events, the forward hyperextended his left knee on March 15 this year, effectively ending his injury-plagued campaign.
In some ways, the 2025-26 season could be viewed as an outlier for Antetokounmpo from a health perspective. He still averaged impressive figures, posting 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. But considering how much the Heat have invested in the superstar, ensuring he remains available during the regular season remains a priority.
On a positive note, Antetokounmpo has shown an increased level of commitment to the Heat. With every intention of contending for the title right away, the 31-year-old has already started training at the Heat facility, getting familiar with the coaching staff to fast-track the chemistry-building process.
Although the pressure on Antetokounmpo is immense, this is increasingly positive news for Miami. Still, it doesn’t necessarily bode well for Greece’s national team.
As a pivotal figure in the national team, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence could spell disaster for Greece as they enter the World Cup qualifiers without their best player.
Greece (3-3) is currently tied with Portugal and Georgia in Group I heading into the second round of qualification. With two difficult games scheduled against Ukraine (August 28) and Spain (August 31), Greece may find themselves in a tough position without Antetokounmpo shoring up the team’s efforts.