NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has never competed in an Olympic Games, is rooting for Greece to win the next FIBA Olympic Qualification Tournament in Piraeus, Greece, so that Greece may go to Paris.

He has never competed in the Olympics in the blue and white, but since 2013, he has frequently represented Greece in international competitions.
He told reporters he wants to change that.

“I have never played in the Olympic Games and I really want for us to get there,” Antetokounmpo said, as translated by Eurohoops.

“We have the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The only incentive is qualifying, not Team USA or anything else.”

Started on July 2, the tournament will feature Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, New Zealand, Dominican Republic and Egypt. Only one will get a spot in the Paris Olympics.

The two-time NBA MVP has been out of action since straining his left calf on April 9 in a regular-season game against eventual champion Boston Celtics.

Antetokounmpo said that he “wasn’t even close” to returning when the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and couldn’t run at full speed.

Now he sounds ready to go and is keen to start training.

“I have not practiced yet, but I feel better,” he said, adding that he “cannot wait to join the training camp.”

This will be the 2021 NBA champion’s first time playing under coach and Greek basketball legend Vassilis Spanoulis.

Spanoulis retired in 2021 and has spent the last two seasons coaching Greek league team Peristeri.

“I think this is what the national team needs,” Antetokounmpo said.

“A person with many unbelievable moments for Greek basketball, from playing for the national team to Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.

“He has tremendous experience as a player. As a coach over the last two years, he showed what he can do.”

Other players on Greece’s extended roster for the training camp include Kostas Papanikolau, Nick Calathes, Kostas Sloukas, Georgios Papagiannis, Thomas Walkup and Kostas Antetokounmmpo.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of Giannis and Kostas, will not participate, as he had surgery to repair a torn Achilles in May