Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his home country of Greece achieved something they have yet to do in 16 years. After Antetokounmpo and Greece defeated Croatia in the FIBA qualifying tournament final, 80-69, they will make their first Olympic games since 2008.
For the first time in his career, Antetokounmpo will participate in the Olympics. The game was one of four men’s basketball qualifying tournament finals held to determine the final remaining spots in the 12-team field for the Paris Games. Antetokounmpo wanted nothing more than to display his game in front of the world’s best athletes.
“The best athletes in the world compete in the Olympic Games,” Antetokounmpo said. “We have nothing to lose … I really believe we have an incredible team and we can accomplish something special.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece, NBA player for Milwaukee Bucks during the FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament match between Dominican Republic and Greece on July 3, 2024 in Piraeus, Greece. Antetokounmpo guides his team to the… More SEBASTIAN FREJ/MB MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES
Although Antetokounmpo is the superstar on the team, Georgios Papagiannis did his part, scoring 19 points (second on the team) to lead his country to victory.
“It’s very nice to qualify because that’s the first step,” Papagiannis said. “At the Olympics, we’re looking to do something really good there.”
Greece will be a part of Group A for the Paris Games, alongside Australia, Canada, and Spain. This group is arguably the best in the 12-team field, so Greece will have their work cut out for them once the games start in late July. It was an emotional moment for Antetokounmpo, who was overcome with joy after sending his country to the Olympics.
On top of leading his team to the Olympics, Antetokounmpo made the FIBA Olympic qualifying All-Star Five alongside Slovenia superstar Luka Dončić. An Olympic appearance is just another stellar addition to his already fantastic resume. Antetokounmpo has already established himself as one of the all-time greats in his 11-year career. The 29-year-old is an NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, two-time NBA MVP, eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA member,five-time All-Defensive member, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the NBA 7th Anniversary Team.
Still, at the prime of his career, Antetokounmpo can add to his Hall of Fame legacy by bringing home the gold for his home country. Antetokounmpo made a name for himself with the Filathlitikos in the semi-pro Greek B Basket League and was ultimately a first-round pick by the Bucks in the 2013 NBA Draft.