Renowned for his impassioned performance, Giannis Antetokounmpo was clearly affected after leading Greece to the Paris Olympics, their first basketball qualifying since 2008.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Top Plays FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 #FIBAOQT #basketball pic.twitter.com/TkBkSFr4dL
— Basketball (@HighlightsPlays) July 8, 2024
With an 80-69 mark in a pivotal game against Croatia, Greece secured one of the last four places in the forthcoming Games. With 23 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, Milwaukee Bucks key player Antetokount gave an outstanding effort.
Giannis Antetokounmpo went against the grain by not playing for Team USA. Now he’s about to be in the Olympics for the first time in what’s been a fulfilling ride
There’s social commentary at play as well here:https://t.co/9ouVSGBxIx
— ℚ (@qshironalberti3) July 8, 2024
For Antetokountmpo, who will be making his Olympic debut, the win was very meaningful. Tearingly relishing courtside with his children, post-game footage saw him savoring both a personal win as much as a national one. Later, he expressed his feelings on X, sharing pictures of his son with a sign writing “Et Viola,” suggesting the excitement for Paris 2024,
Giannis Antetokounmpo in his last 6 seasons:
29.5 PPG
12.0 RPG
5.9 APG
1.1 SPG
1.2 BPG
57.0 FG%— 2x MVP
— 1x DPOY
— 1x NBA Champ
— 1x Finals MVP
— 6x All-NBA 1st team
— 6x All-Star
— 1x ASG MVP
— Became the Bucks All-time leading scorer
— Was featured on the NBA 75th… pic.twitter.com/h2eEDlw5d5— NBA World (@NBAW0RLD24) July 8, 2024
Greece staged an Olympic qualifier at Piraeus, which was part of a worldwide series deciding the Paris Olympic finalists. Among the various teams in the competition were Slovenia, headed by another NBA star Luka Doncic, whom Greece defeated in the semifinal. Other rivals included New Zealand, Egypt, the Dominican Republic.
Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo makes his first Olympics as Greece beat Croatiahttps://t.co/WHFFN7QstV pic.twitter.com/4F6qjMnsE9
— Γιάννα (@YoannaIskander) July 8, 2024
Brazil guaranteed their Olympic place in Latvia, Spain kept their run going by overcoming the Bahamas for their eighth straight Olympics, and Puerto Rico overcame Lithuania to round out the last qualifications. All of them had already guaranteed their places in the Games; they join the United States, Germany, Serbia, Canada, South Sudan, Japan, Australia, and host nation France.
Key Points:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece to an 80-69 victory over Croatia, securing a spot in the Paris Olympics for the first time since 2008.
- Antetokounmpo was emotional after the game, celebrating the victory with his children and sharing the moment on social media.
- The Olympic qualifying tournaments decided the last few spots for the upcoming Games, with Greece hosting one of the events in Piraeus.
- Other countries that qualified through different tournaments include Brazil, Spain, and Puerto Rico.
- The Paris 2024 basketball lineup now includes 12 teams, with traditional powerhouses and several newcomers.
Kirk Volo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
