Greece superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is scheduled to begin training with the national team in the coming days.

“There’s a schedule and I believe he will properly join practices in the following days,” said Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis after the preparation win of his team over Poland Friday (21/6). Giannis sat the game out, together with his younger brother Kostas Antetokounmpo and Greece captain Kostas Papanikolaou.

Antetokounmpo last played on April 9, when he suffered a left calf strain during a victory over the Boston Celtics. He was forced to miss the remainder of the season.

“I haven’t played basketball for two months and a half,” Giannis had said during the Media Day of Greece ahead of training camp for the Olympic Qualifiers. “I haven’t practiced but I’m better. I can’t wait to join the practices.”

Antetokounmpo may return to duty in Greece’s next friendlies against Montenegro and the Bahamas for the annual Akropolis Tournament. Both games will be tough tests for the Greek Freak and his teammates against teams that include NBA stars like Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro), DeAndre Ayton (Bahamas), Buddy Hield (Bahamas), and Eric Gordon (Bahamas).

 

Greece will then focus on the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus. Slovenia and Croatia will compete in the event, together with the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, and Egypt.