Giannis Antetokounmpo, an NBA player who has never been in an Olympic Games, is cheering for Greece to win the next FIBA Olympic Qualification Tournament in Piraeus, Greece, so that they can go to Paris.
He has never competed in the Olympics in the blue and white, but since 2013, he has frequently represented Greece in international competitions.
He told reporters he wants to change that.
“I have never played in the Olympic Games and I really want for us to get there,” Antetokounmpo said, as translated by Eurohoops.
“We have the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The only incentive is qualifying, not Team USA or anything else.”
The competition began on July 2 and will feature Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, New Zealand, the Dominican Republic, and Egypt. Only one will be selected to compete in the Paris Olympics.
The two-time NBA MVP has been out since April 9, when he strained his left calf in a regular-season game against the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
Antetokounmpo stated that he “wasn’t even close” to returning when the Bucks were ousted in the first round of the playoffs and was unable to run full pace.
Now he sounds ready to go and eager to start training.
“I have not practiced yet, but I feel better,” he said, adding that he “cannot wait to join the training camp.”
This will be the 2021 NBA champion’s first time playing for coach and Greek basketball icon Vassilis Spanoulis.
Spanoulis retired in 2021 and has spent the following two seasons coaching the Greek league team Peristeri.
“I think this is what the national team needs,” Antetokounmpo said.
“A person with many unbelievable moments for Greek basketball, from playing for the national team to Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.
“He has tremendous experience as a player. As a coach over the last two years, he showed what he can do.”
Other players on Greece’s extended training camp roster include Kostas Papanikolau, Nick Calathes, Kostas Sloukas, Georgios Papagiannis, Thomas Walkup, and Kostas Antetokounmpo.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of Giannis and Kostas, will not participate because he underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles in May.