At the NBA All-Star Game, amidst the displays of athleticism, Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s words carried a different weight. He opened up about the pain of missing the Greek national team last summer, his absence amplified by a knee injury that sidelined him despite averaging a career-high 30.8 points and 11.2 rebounds in the NBA. “I hurt more than everyone out there that I couldn’t be with the national team,” he stated in the post-game interview.

The conversation then shifted to the Milwaukee Bucks, a team currently going through a turbulent season. Coaching changes, four in just six months, have created instability, and the impact of losing close friend and teammate Jrue Holiday (19.1 points, 6.8 assists) has been undeniable.

“It’s a tough season, we changed four coaches in six months, it’s tough,” Giannis acknowledged. “We traded Jrue Holiday, I won’t say I didn’t like it because Damian Lillard is now my teammate and with him, we’re going to win the championship, but my best friend leaving, who was living two minutes away from me, is tough. We won the championship, and we cried together. That part is hard, but the NBA is a business. We all understand that there are trades.”

While acknowledging the challenges, Giannis’ optimism shone through. He believes the acquisition of Damian Lillard (34.2 points, 7.8 assists) marks a new chapter for the Bucks, one that could lead them back to championship glory. “With him, we’re going to win the championship,” he stated.

Beyond the Numbers

The agony of missing the games with Greece also ran deep with Giannis missing that deep bond with his teammates back “home”, especially his brothers Thanasis and Kostas. “I had one more reason to be there,” he said, as per EuroHoops.Net. Yet, the thought of playing through pain and potentially letting his team down was unbearable. “I didn’t want to go and leave the gym crying,” he added in his post All-Star game interview.

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This theme of heartbreak extended beyond the FIBA World Cup. Even for the retirement of legendary Greek player Nikos Galis, Giannis couldn’t bring himself to attend. “I wasn’t in Greece and I couldn’t be present for Mr. Nikos,” while adding, “Otherwise I would have been the first to go to the stadium.”

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Giannis’ eyes were set on the upcoming Olympic qualifiers. “Like I’ve said many times, if I’m healthy, I’ll be there.” Memories were fueled by the EuroBasket in 2022, where he led his team with 29.3 points and 8.8 rebounds, and the embrace of a nation united by their sport. “Anyone who thinks he is hurt more than me, that I wasn’t there to help my teammates, my brothers, that I didn’t feel again the emotion that we had at the EuroBasket… he doesn’t know me at all.”

Whether they can recapture the magic of their championship season remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the “Greek Freak” is a force to be reckoned with, both statistically and emotionally, and his story is far from over.