Giannis Antetokounmpo named to Greece roster for FIBA Olympic qualifier

Giannis Antetokounmpo will pull on the Greek jersey again on July 25 when Greece opens FIBA Olympic qualifying action against Puerto Rico.

What happened?

The Milwaukee Bucks superstar was named Thursday to Greece’s 12-man roster for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain. The window runs July 25-28 and carries one Olympic berth for the top finisher. Greece, ranked No. 10 in the world, opens against Puerto Rico on July 25 at 15:00 CET.

Why it matters for Giannis Antetokounmpo

At 29, this is Giannis’s first chance to steer Greece toward the Olympics since missing the cut in 2021. A deep run would give him a fourth major-tournament appearance in five summers and keep his Olympic dream alive. Greece’s group also includes Mexico and Angola; only the group winner advances.

What comes next?

Greece trains Friday in Valencia before the opener. Giannis will slot in at power forward alongside Kostas Papanikolaou and center Georgios Papagiannis. If they advance, the next stage is the final on July 29. Buck teammate Damian Lillard is already in the U.S. camp, so Giannis’s focus stays on the Greek flag.

How Greece can qualify

They need to top the four-team group. Puerto Rico lost to Canada in the Americas pre-qualifier, while Angola fell to Cape Verde. Mexico beat Brazil in May. A single loss likely ends Greece’s hopes, so every game counts.