All systems go for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece

MILWAUKEE (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on the Greece roster at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Turin. The rising NBA star had a meeting with his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, on Thursday night and informed the club of his wish to play for the national side again.

The 21-year-old then confirmed his availability for Greece with a post on Instagram.

Antetokounmpo, whose tremendous athleticism and talent has earned him the nickname the 'Greek Freak', was included in Greece's preliminary squad for the OQT several days ago.

He played for the national team the last two summers, at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain and at EuroBasket 2015 in Croatia and France. Now he wants to compete at an Olympics for the first time but to make it, Greece must win the OQT in Italy.

In Turin, Greece will take on Iran and Mexico in Group A and potentially face Croatia, hosts Italy and Tunisia from Group B. Only the winner of the OQT will clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

Antetokounmpo's older brother, Thanasis, was also named in Greece's 16-man preliminary squad. A draft pick of the New York Knicks, Thanasis has so far played in the NBDL and unlike Giannis did not feature for Greece's youth teams.

Thanasis and the New York Knicks' sensation Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia also appear in the Instagram post by Giannis Antetokounmpo. The three players were together at a 3x3 event in Greece a few days ago.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be one of the main attractions this summer.

The Greeks, meanwhile, have lost the services of Kostas Papanikolaou because of an ankle injury. National team coach Fotis Katsikaris has elected not to name a replacement in the squad for the 25-year-old forward.

FIBA