The Greek Federation has firmly rejected false claims about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s participation in the upcoming EuroBasket tournament, which starts next week. The organization responded after reports suggested they were awaiting the player’s insurance approval before confirming his involvement.
Federation Denies False Allegations Regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Status
Following a Eurohoops report claiming that Team Greece was delaying Giannis Antetokounmpo’s participation due to insurance matters, the Greek Federation issued a statement dismissing these rumors as baseless. They emphasized that they neither engage with nor respond to malicious content targeting the Milwaukee Bucks star.
The Federation doesn’t bother with and doesn’t answer to anything malicious regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s participation with the national team that has been written in the last few days,
the Federation said.
The Federation clarified that the team had been awaiting official clearance for Giannis to take part in full-contact 5-on-5 practice sessions, a standard precaution given his status as a two-time <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA MVP. This measure aims to protect the player’s health ahead of the demanding international competition.
Accusations of Coordinated Misinformation Campaign
The Federation accused certain groups, described as “para-centers,” of deliberately fabricating the controversy. These actors were said to have knowingly spread falsehoods with the intention of undermining team unity and distracting public opinion from Greece’s national basketball efforts.
All these circles that have created these are guided by ‘para-centers’ that knew very well that everything they were saying and writing was lies,
the Federation stated.
They manufactured a non-existent issue because their sole goal was to mislead public opinion and harm the unity and concentration of the national team with their lies. Unfortunately, it’s one more sample of some people using the national team to transmit their toxicity to basketball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Challenging Competition at EuroBasket
Giannis is set to face formidable opponents from other star-studded national teams at EuroBasket. These include Nikola Jokic of Team Slovenia, five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic representing Team Serbia, Nikola Jovic of Team Serbia, Houston Rockets’ All-Star center Alperen Sengun playing for Team Turkey, and Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner on Team Germany.
The Greek superstar, often called the “Greek Freak,” is well-known for his exceptional individual talents, though team honors at the international level have been limited. Notably, he was named MVP of the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and earned a spot on the FIBA All-Second Team during the 2024 Olympics.
Antetokounmpo’s Recent Season and Impact on Milwaukee Bucks
During the 2024-25 NBA season, Giannis continued his high level of performance, securing his ninth All-Star selection and seventh consecutive All-NBA First Team honor. He played 67 healthy games for the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 30.4 points per game on an impressive 60.7 percent shooting from the field and 61.7 percent from the free-throw line. Alongside scoring, he averaged 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals, demonstrating his all-around influence on the court.
This marked his third straight season averaging at least 30 points and 11.5 rebounds, underscoring his continued dominance and importance to the Bucks’ 48-34 campaign last season.
What Lies Ahead for Giannis and the Greek National Team
As EuroBasket begins, the Greek Federation’s defense of Giannis Antetokounmpo aims to preserve team harmony and focus amid a tense lead-up marked by misinformation. Ensuring the star forward’s full participation will be vital not only for Greece’s tournament chances but also for maintaining the competitive integrity of the event. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how Giannis fares against other international stars in what promises to be a fiercely contested competition.