ATHENS (Greece) - Giannis Antetokounmpo admits he is "jealous" of the other players that have competed at the Olympics and that he is desperate to take part in the Games in France.
For that to happen, Antetokounmpo and Greece must win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Piraeus that is taking place July 2 to July. 7. Slovenia, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Croatia and Egypt are also taking part.
"They say that the feeling of success with the national team is incredible, I'm jealous and I want to feel it one day," he said on Thursday at a press conference. "I have not felt this and it gives me an extra motivation.
"I have never played in an Olympics, I would definitely like to qualify so that we can represent the country in the best possible way. I would love to do it."
Antetokounmpo played for Greece at the OQT in Turin eight years ago, but the team fell to eventual winners Croatia in the Semi-Finals, 66-61. He did not feature at the 2020 OQT in Victoria, when Greece reached the Final but fell to the Czech Republic.
His most recent adventure with Greece was at EuroBasket 2022 in Berlin, where the team fell to Germany in the Quarter-Finals.
One significant change since his last appearance with Greece is at coach. Dimitris Itoudis, who also led Greece at the FIBA Basketball World Cup last year, is no longer at the helm. Now it's Vasilis Spanoulis, one of the legends who won EuroBasket 2005 and also finished runners-up at the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Spanoulis this season was named Coach of the Year in the Basketball Champions League after leading Peristeri to the Final Four.
Coach Spanoulis is the man the national team needs - Giannis
"This is what the national team needs," Antetokounmpo said. "A man who has given incredible moments to Greek basketball, either with Olympiacos, with Panathinaikos, or with the national team.
"With tremendous experience as a player, but also as a coach in the last three years and how the players follow him. I can't wait to be on the court, to coach us and to achieve something beautiful."
Antetokounmpo says it's a blow that his brother, Thanasis, is not playing this summer.
"I will definitely miss him," he said. "We need such a player in the national team, not only because he gives energy on defense and attack, but because he is a great teammate, who greatly increases the chemistry in a team and brings the players together with the coaches. He will be missed by everyone, not just me, his brother."
Spanoulis, meanwhile, says Greece can win the OQT and reach the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 if they have the right approach.
"Let's all get on the same page in terms of philosophy and motivation," he said. "There is no room for egos here, self-sacrifice is needed. The most important thing is to understand that in the national team you may have a different role, but to do everything you can to contribute, to give your heart."
Spanoulis is optimistic.
"We have an excellent climate," he said. "We have already talked about it. Many times if you want something badly and you don't play it right, you can't achieve it. The most important thing for me is to play defense.
"For me everything starts there, this is the DNA of the Greek. We will not become a team that only plays defense. But every great team starts from the defense."
Kostas Sloukas, like Antetokounmpo, wants to finally have some success with the national team, something that has eluded him in his career. One day after the press conference, the national federation announced that Sloukas will not participate in the upcoming event. He suffers from a calf injury.
There are players who have achieved everything, won every title there is, but a medal with the national team completes us as athletes - Kostas sloukas
"It is a big failure, personally, but also as a team, that we have not achieved something with the national team," he said. "There are players who have achieved everything, won every title there is, but a medal with the national team completes us as athletes.
"The national team is above situations, above teams, it is the greatest honor and we are all here, even though we are tired, to fight for something beautiful this summer."
Sloukas is upbeat about Greece's chances and especially so since Spanoulis is in charge.
"I'm generally optimistic as a person, you understand that," he said. "Every year, of course, we say the same thing and turn our heads down to our teams and our families. The arrival of Vasilis has brought an optimism, a confidence, because his character is like that. He has a leadership character, brings everyone together and makes them believe. The material is there, a little luck is needed."
Sloukas remembers not that long ago that he used to square off against Spanoulis on the court as an opponent in club basketball.
"I also experienced him as an opponent," he said. "It was strange to see him in a suit. Seeing his philosophy and what he puts on the court every day, we are not far from a philosophical standpoint... He is a very capable coach with a lot of talent, who will make history, I hope that starting now, he will achieve something with the national team, which has been missing for so many years."
FIBA