Home

Olympics

Is Giannis Antetokounmpo Playing at the Tokyo Olympics 2021?

Published 07/03/2021, 11:10 PM EDT

Follow Us

via Getty

Prior to the 2020-21 season kickoff, NBA pundits had all accepted that the Brooklyn Nets would take the EC title. However, they were clueless about the Bucks and their redemption plans. Giannis Antetokounmpo never once feared or let these predictions take him down, and that led to Milwaukee intimidating every playoff opponent.

But it isn’t just the Bucks that occupy Giannis’s mind; it’s also his home team back in Greece. With the Summer Olympics around the corner, there’s a lot on the plate of the 2x MVP with some timelines clashing. So given his side’s NBA success, is it possible that he can also help his home team ahead of the Olympics?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Tokyo Olympics equation

Currently, the Bucks have bundled up the Hawks in six games. So, they’re now locked for at least the coming two weeks when they play the Suns in the NBA Finals. This also meant that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo both missed the OQT (Olympics Qualifier Tournament) that started on June 29 in Victoria, Canada. 

In the OQT, the Greece team is the #1 seed in the six-side tournament. The winner of this event will join the USA, Iran, and France in Group A of the 12-team Olympics tie. So Giannis’s entry will depend on how his side plays in his absence.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Olympics stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Just last week, the former DPOY’s agent, Giorgos Panou, had claimed, “His goal is to be at Tokyo. Whenever he can be available and healthy, he will play for the National Team.”

All You Need to Know About the Famous Family of Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Greek Freak and his ultimate dream

Giannis had Nigerian parents and took birth on the land of Greece. He started playing for youth teams of Filathlitikos in Athens and in 2011, joined the senior squad. His Herculean size later bagged him the tag of The Greek Freak and that only increased his love for Greece. 

As per a report, Giannis, who grabbed his 2019 MVP trophy wearing a coat with inner lining showcasing Pantheon, dreams of winning Gold at FIBA WC. This shows his priorities and how he is a man who respects his roots before anything.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

USA Today via Reuters

Currently, the Freak is recovering from a knee injury that he endured in Game 4 against the Hawks. However, the good news is that the Greece Men’s team, after taking a 91-97 loss to Canada, took a win over China.

Even as players like Vassilis Spanoulis retire, they still have Giannoulis Larentzakis and Kostas Sloukas that can help their contention.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The team will next play Turkey on Saturday in hopes to qualify for the Olympics. Do you see Giannis getting a chance to represent his nation at the biggest stage? Help us know in the comments.

Watch this storyBucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and His Crazy Transformation Over the Years

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Sourabh Singh

1,740Articles

One take at a time

Sourabh Singh is an NBA sports analyst for EssentiallySports, who has been working with the site since May 2020. Prior to this, he functioned as Managing Editor at WittyFeed, followed by a stint at Decathlon. The Sports Management graduate leads an active lifestyle, veering to the mountains for off-trail adventures.
Show More>