Everything shows… National team with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Pre-Olympic Games

The Bucks’ season came to an inglorious end after the elimination in the first round of the NBA playoffs 4-2 by the Pacers. THE John Antetokounmpo due to the injury he suffered four games before the end of the regular season on April 10 against the Celtics, he has not been able to help his team in any game since and realistically the chances of making the playoffs without their top player were slim.

The Greek Freak avoided damage to the achilles, but the problem in the calf and foot did not allow him to enter the action and offer his valuable services. Anyway his problem is not serious enough to disqualify him from the Pre-Olympic Tournament. In fact, if the Bucks advanced to the second round of the playoffs, the 29-year-old ace would have a chance to compete in the series against the Knicks. After all, his coach, Doc Rivers, before Game 6 of the Bucks had said that he was very close to returning to action.

But now Antetokounmpo has all the time in front of him to do the necessary treatments, without rushing, in order to be ready for the great challenge of the National team in the Pre-Olympic Tournament (July 2-7) in SEF. His desire to compete is a given and he now has a month and a half ahead of him until the preparation for the Greek internationals begins.

Barring a serious emergencywell, everything shows that after his absence from the 2023 World Cup due to the knee surgery, Giannis Antetokounmpo will reinforce the “official favorite” in trying to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 16 years. After all, it is a dream for him to play with Greece in the Olympic Games and he has a golden opportunity in front of him.

It is noted that Antetokounmpo has already competed for five summers with the Men’s National Team participating in the 2015 and 2022 EuroBaskets, the 2014 and 2019 World Cups, as well as the 2016 Italy Pre-Olympic Tournament. Absent three times due to force majeure: from the 2017 EuroBasket and the 2023 World Cup due to injury, while missing and from the 2021 Pre-Olympics, because it was held at the same time as the Bucks were playing in the NBA playoffs, eventually winning the title.

We remind you that Greece will face the Dominican Republic and Egypt in the group stage of the Pre-Olympic Tournament. The top two teams continue to the semi-finals, where the Greek team will face one of Slovenia, Croatia or New Zealand. The team that wins the final will get the ticket to the Olympic Games. If the National Team qualifies, they will face Australia, Canada and the team that wins the Pre-Olympics in Valencia (ie one from Lebanon, Angola, Spain, Finland, Poland and the Bahamas).