Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will play for Greece in the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament from July 2 – 7.
The news was confirmed by Greece’s coach Vassilis Spanoulis and comes despite Antetokounmpo being hit with a season-ending calf injury in April that stopped him from playing in the Bucks’ playoff run.
Antetokounmpo starts training from today to be ready for the start of the national team’s preparation.
The 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will be basketball tournaments set to be contested by 24 national teams, where the top teams earn a place in the 2024 Summer Olympics basketball tournament. They are scheduled to take place from July 2 to 7, 2024 in Greece, Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
Hosting Greece takes on the Dominican Republic on July 3 and Egypt on July 4 in the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Piraeus. Ranking first or second in Group B of the preliminary stage would advance Greece to a single-elimination game against Croatia, Slovenia, or New Zealand in the semi-finals. On July 7, the final will be held which will give teams a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Greece’s last appearance at the Olympic Games was in 2008 in Beijing.
Source: protothema.gr.