At the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time league MVP from the Milwaukee Bucks, has led Team Greece to secure its first Olympic spot in 16 years.
The excitement is palpable, especially with a superstar like Giannis on board, setting high expectations for the team as they jump into the group stage of competition.
However, Greece hasn’t had the smoothest start. The team dropped to an 0-2 record, suffering an 84-77 defeat against Team Spain.
In that match, Giannis gave it his all. He played for 34 minutes, scoring 27 points with an impressive shooting percentage of 12-of-17 from the field and grabbing 11 rebounds along with three assists and two steals.
Spain improved to 1-1 in pool play, with young forward Santi Aldama leading the charge at 19 points and 12 boards. Team Greece will face a significant challenge in their next matchup against Team Canada, which features 10 NBA players, including All-Star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
With the field narrowing to just eight teams, Greece’s upcoming game against Team Australia is crucial for their chances at advancement.
Aside from Giannis, Aris combo guard Vassilis Toliopoulos contributed significantly, scoring 14 points off the bench with solid shooting numbers.
Across both games, Antetokounmpo has averaged a remarkable 30.5 points while shooting 67.6% from the field, showcasing his elite skills.
While winning a medal may seem challenging for Antetokounmpo this year, he remains an elite player with a good shot at securing another league title next season.
In the 2023-24 NBA season, he had impressive stats, averaging 30.4 points and 11.5 rebounds, but injury sidelined him during the playoffs, resulting in an early exit for the Bucks against the Indiana Pacers.
Assuming both Giannis and Damian Lillard stay healthy, and Milwaukee makes savvy offseason moves, the Bucks are poised for a better performance than their 49-33 finish this past season.