Giannis Antetokounmpo is looking forward to participating in Greece’s training camp, though he’s still dealing with the injury that short-circuited the Bucks’ playoff run. Milwaukee’s superstar will look to help Greece advance out of the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Piraeus early next month.
“I have not practiced yet, but I feel better. I cannot wait to join the training camp,” he told Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.net and other reporters.
Antetokounmpo suffered a calf strain late in the NBA regular season. The announcement that he would play for Greece was made at the beginning of this month.
We have more international basketball news:
- Canada’s preliminary Olympic roster is loaded with NBA players and there will be tough decisions ahead to pare it to 12 players, Josh Lewenberg of TSN notes. Kings forward Trey Lyles, former NBA bigs Khem Birch and Mfiondu Kabengele and two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey are some of the players who, on paper, will be fighting for the last two spots on the roster, writes Lewenberg.
- Former NBA forward Mario Hezonja announced on social media that he’s re-signing with Real Madrid, Sportando relays. “Real Madrid believed in me when many didn’t, cared for me and my family since the first day I arrived and made us feel at home. My only intention was to stay so I am happy to communicate to you that I will continue my journey at MY HOME, MY REAL MADRID for a long time!” he wrote. There had been speculation he might look at NBA opportunities.
- Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson was not on the Philippines’ 12-man roster for the FIBA Olympic qualifier. Coach Tim Cone opted for continuity, according to executive director Erika Dy. Cone decided to go with the same group that participated in an Asia Cup qualifier over the winter. “Premise of coach Tim, we have the same roster every time. The shorter training periods will accumulate, and the players will build chemistry,” Dy said, per BasketNews.
- Virtus Bologna is reportedly interested in former NBA guard Luca Vildoza, who is leaving Greece’s Panathinaikos, according to another Sportando report. Vildoza had a seven-game stint with the Bucks in 2021/22.
- After leading Panathinaikos to a Euroleague title, Ergin Ataman is eager to get a shot at coaching in the NBA. But he told the Spanish outlet AS that he only wants to make the jump if he’s offered a head coaching job. “Before it was my dream, now it’s not, but if you want a star coach from Europe, here I am. Why would I be afraid of training NBA stars?” he said, per Eurohoops.net.
- The Chinese national team will participate in the California Classic in Sacramento next month, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reports. They’ll be grouped against Summer League teams from the Kings, Hornets, and Spurs. Squads from the Warriors, Lakers and Heat will play against each other in San Francisco.
Mario pppffff
Clarkson being left off the Philippines roster because he couldn’t play a couple random games in winter during the NBA season is another prime example of FIBA shooting itself in the foot. Also, that is some poor coaching by the Gilas Pilipinas. They should view 2 games against Hong Kong and Taiwan as a great opportunity to develop talent, not hang over the heads of their best players.
its not fiba that left him out of the roster.
FIBA changed the qualification process for the major tournaments to be 2 games every few months including throughout the pro season. So Clarkson could not leave the Utah Jazz to go train for a couple weeks for 2 games against Hong Kong and Taiwan (that weren’t going be close anyway) and because of this their national team is holding that against him and not permitting him to play in these upcoming games. A similar thing happened to Kai Sotto, he was almost a sure thing to get drafted but because he attempted to go play 2 games in the winter with the national team he ended up missing the Covid G league season and it hurt his draft stock badly. He did this because he didn’t want to risk his future in the national team.
FIBA decided to play their games when the best players are unavailable, that is how they are shooting themselves in the foot.
FIBA needs Clarkson as much as FIFA needs the joke that’s U.S. “soccer”.
The Philippines definitely need Clarkson. He’s a huge deal over there. We see it all over any Jazz related YT comment sections, along with tons of cloned videos from there. =) It’s died down a bit ever since the possibility of Clarkson getting traded though.
Who cares. He is really American anyway. Complain complain. They don’t want to be like silly USA. He has probably never been there before he played a basketball game.
I’m starting to think Giannis wasn’t really ‘very very close’ to returning in the first round series against Indiana as Doc suggested…
Yes please Giannis play useless international games while still injured. What could possibly go wrong?
another arrogant opinion of an American thinking national team games are useless
you still haven’t learned from Nowitzki, Parker, Ginobili, Doncic and Giannis that they love playing for their national teams
Americans don’t have pride in where they live. Come one come all
OK, maybe useless was overstated but my main point was playing injured in international games doesn’t seem like a good idea given your injury history the past two years
Do the national teams pay their salaries? What happens if they get injured? Who pays for that? Saying the Americans are silly is ignorance.
National pride is honorable. Honoring your commitments to your employer is just as honorable. Can’t always do both.