As the 2025 NBA regular season remains months away, EuroBasket 2025 has become a focal point for basketball fans, featuring NBA stars like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic competing internationally. However, uncertainty overshadows Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo’s EuroBasket status, as he has yet to receive official clearance to join Greece’s national team for the tournament.
Though Giannis appears on the Greece roster for upcoming matches, he has not played in any warm-up games. According to a report from Eurohoops on Wednesday, the Bucks star is listed for the friendly against Montenegro but will not participate due to incomplete authorization from his NBA team.
Clearance From Milwaukee Bucks Still Pending
Eurohoops detailed that Giannis Antetokounmpo has been absent from Greece’s preparations, including the notable warm-up game in Cyprus against Serbia and Nikola Jokic. His expected game on August 14 in Thessaloniki against Montenegro will also proceed without him.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has already missed the marquee preparation game in Cyprus against Serbia and Nikola Jokic, and he is not expected to play on Thursday (14/8) in Thessaloniki against Montenegro,
the report stated.
Further confirmation came via social media from EuroLeague Communications Officer @arbarkas, emphasizing that Giannis remains inactive with the Greek team as he waits on written permission from the Milwaukee Bucks to join team activities.
BREAKING: Giannis Antetokounmpo has yet to take part in any team activities during EuroBasket as he’s still waiting for the Milwaukee Bucks to provide written permission for him to participate, as confirmed by @arbarkas (EuroLeague Communications Officer). pic.twitter.com/BEi5MYYUjr
—@arbarkas, EuroLeague Communications Officer
Without this clearance, Giannis cannot fully commit to Greece’s schedule leading up to the tournament. This delay has also affected the team’s planning, especially as other key players like Vassilis Toliopoulos, Omiros Netzipoglou, and Vangelis Zougris will also be sidelined due to injuries for the Montenegro game.
EuroBasket Preparations and Regulations Impact Arrival Timing
The expected arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo for Greece’s training sessions was to occur much earlier, raising questions within the basketball community. Eurohoops notes that although Giannis was allowed to join the national team starting August 1, his presence has yet to be confirmed well into mid-August, increasing uncertainty around his readiness for the competition.
According to the FIBA-NBA agreement, each NBA player is allowed to join the training camp of his national team 28 days before the start of a major FIBA tournament. Greece starts the EuroBasket on the 28th of August, so Giannis should have been available for the 1st of August,
the report explained.
Fans and supporters will now watch closely to see if the Milwaukee Bucks grant Giannis the necessary permission in time for him to make an impact at EuroBasket 2025. The star’s potential absence could significantly affect Greece’s prospects in the tournament, as his leadership and skills remain central to the team’s chances.
Implications for Greece and EuroBasket 2025
The unresolved status of Giannis Antetokounmpo brings tension and uncertainty to Greece’s EuroBasket campaign, where the team hopes to compete strongly amid a field of international talent. Without their marquee player, Greece may need to adjust strategies and rely on other contributors in the coming weeks.
The eventual decision from the Milwaukee Bucks will not only influence Giannis’s participation but also impact the dynamic of the tournament itself. EuroBasket 2025 is poised to showcase top-level basketball, and fans remain eager to see if the Greek Freak will join his national team in full capacity before the event begins at the end of August.