MILWAUKEE (USA) - Giannis Antetokounmpo has lived another summer with Greece's national team and says it's been one of the best experiences of his life.
One of the greatest players in the world suited up for his country at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and led it to its first berth at a Summer Games in 16 long years. Putting on the Greek jersey again is something he is always going to treasure.
"I was happy that I was playing basketball again after two months and a half (out), I was able to be there in the Qualifiers and the to represent my country in the Olympics," he said at his media day in Milwaukee.
"That was an awesome experience. I don't take any moment for granted but being able to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 16 years (for Greece) that was awesome. The Olympic Village was awesome. Having 7 to 10,000 athletes, different body shop, different culture, I think it was the most diverse place on earth at that moment.
"To be able to experience all that and to compete for my country, it was awesome, an incredible feeling. That experience was one of the best I've ever had, win or lose. It was one of the most amazing experiences, being in Paris, going through the Opening Ceremony and being the flag bearer for your country, and being the first black flag bearer for my country, that was also awesome ... feeling the Olympic spirit."
Antetokounmpo also repeated a theme that has now been uttered before, that international basketball benefits players before they hit the NBA hardwood for a new season.
"A lot of players that play in FIBA before they come in (for pre-season), they have incredible seasons" - Giannis Antetokounmpo
"The style of basketball in Europe, or FIBA basketball, is totally different," he said. "The space - it's very hard to score. It's very hard to operate. You can't move. They allow you to be so much more physical.
"I've said this in the past, a lot of players that play in FIBA before they come in (for pre-season), they have incredible seasons. We can talk about Jalen Brunson, who played in the (2023) World Cup, Anthony Edwards played in the FIBA World Cup, Bobby Portis also played in that (USA) team and Paolo Banchero, Tyrese Haliburton played in that team.
"Once you figure out how to play with less space, when you come back and you have a lot of space, a lot of people cannot touch you in the NBA.
"Okay, they can touch you now, but they couldn't touch you probably last year. There is more freedom of movement. You have incredible, better seasons. We'll see. When I played last time, I came back and had a good season."
Antetokounmpo followed his TISSOT MVP performance at the FIBA OQT in Piraeus with a terrific effort in France, where he led Greece to the Quarter-Finals and averaged a tournament-best 25.8 points per game while shooting 68 percent from the floor. He also averaged 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
His 26.5 EFFPG (efficiency per game) was second only to Nikola Jokic's 31.0 EFFPG.
FIBA