Giannis Antetokounmpo Leads Greece to Victory Over Luka Doncic, Slovenia in Pre-Olympic Tournament
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has achieved numerous accolades throughout his basketball career. Following the 2016-17 season, he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player, averaging 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.
Two years later, in the 2018-19 season, he secured his first NBA MVP Award with averages of 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. The next season, he won MVP again and was also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
In the subsequent season, Giannis led the Bucks to their first NBA Championship in 50 years and earned the Finals MVP title. That same year, he was also named MVP of the NBA All-Star Game.
The eight-time All-Star has been included in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, marking him as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.
However, one major achievement has eluded Giannis throughout his career: leading his country to the Olympic Games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Guides Greece to Win Over Slovenia
On Saturday, Giannis and the Greek National Team played against Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and the Slovenian National Team. The match determined who would advance to the finals of the pre-Olympic Tournament, with the winner earning a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Greece triumphed over Slovenia with a 96-68 victory, eliminating Doncic from Olympic contention. Giannis scored 13 points in just 21 minutes of play.
Greece is now one win away from qualifying for the Olympics for the first time since 2008. The Greek National Team has never finished higher than fifth in any of its previous four Olympic appearances.
Managing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Playing Time Wisely
Giannis played only 21 minutes in Greece’s win over Slovenia. Despite being one of the best players globally, his role in the NBA remains vital, and his health is crucial for the Bucks’ success in the upcoming season.
Greece is carefully managing Giannis’ playing time to ensure he remains healthy. If the Greek National Team qualifies for the Olympics, it will be interesting to see how they handle his minutes.
Fans might recall Giannis’ absence during Milwaukee’s opening-round loss to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Playoffs due to health issues. Although he is currently healthy and performing well, fans may still be concerned about the risk of injury during international play.
