Giannis Antetokounmpo will not represent Greece at this summer’s FIBA World Cup.
When the NBA season begins in October, Giannis Antetokounmpo is anticipated to be completely available for the Bucks.
The Milwaukee Bucks player stated on Instagram Friday that he will not compete for his nation in the tournament while recovering from knee surgery. Due to the operation, he was deemed unlikely to play in the World Cup.
Message From Giannis Antetokounmpo on His Instagram Post
In June, Antetokounmpo had surgery to remove cartilage from his left knee. He returned to Greece two days later, but his participation in the FIBA World Cup has been questioned ever since.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo is not yet ready to play for Greece on FIBA World Cup, he is anticipated to be cleared to play for the Bucks when the NBA season begins in October.
Last season, Antetokounmpo averaged a career-high 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists for the Bucks. He had a back injury during the playoffs and missed two games in their first-round series against the Miami Heat. The Heat defeated the Bucks in the first round and advanced to the NBA Finals.
This autumn, the 28-year-old will begin the third year of his five-year, $228 million contract with Milwaukee.
Player Withdrawals Impact World Cup and Paris 2024 Olympic Bids
Antetokounmpo is the most recent player to withdraw from the World Cup. Nikola Joki of the Denver Nuggets said last month that he would not play with Serbia in the tournament following their NBA title season.
The World Cup will begin on August 25 in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. The competition will award bids to seven teams for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Though Antetokounmpo will not be playing this summer, he is planning a comeback to international competition and leading the Greek national team to France.
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