Giannis to miss World Cup with Greece following summer knee procedure
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo won't play for the Greek National Team in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, he announced on Friday.
Everyone knows my passion and love for my National Team has and never will change. Since the conclusion of my NBA season I have been pushing my body to the limits to be the player I need to be to help our team achieve the goals we set.
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) August 11, 2023
But after months of work and multiple… pic.twitter.com/1uhTlfNZVE
The decision comes after the two-time Most Valuable Player underwent a knee procedure earlier in the summer, putting his availability to play in the World Cup in doubt.
The Greek Freak is still expected to be ready by the start of Bucks training camp.
Antetokounmpo has been a constant participant for the Greek National Team throughout his career, playing in five major international events between the World Cup, EuroBasket, and Olympic qualifiers.
He was excellent in his last tournament, averaging 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, leading Greece to a fifth-place finish in the prestigious 24-team EuroBasket.
On the NBA floor, Antetokounmpo will focus on being healthy for a Milwaukee group that swapped Mike Budenholzer with Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin but was otherwise able to retain nearly its entire core group from its successful 2022-23 regular season at the top of the Eastern Conference.