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Greek national team's preliminary list ahead of the FIBA World Cup

Could Giannis play for Greece in the upcoming FIBA World Cup?
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been added to the preliminary list for Greece's men's national basketball team that will compete in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in August in the Philippines. Although this is a welcome development for Greek basketball fans, it is by no means a guarantee that the two-time NBA MVP will suit up for the national team in the prestigious international event.

Knee procedure

The reason for this is that Giannis is coming off a precautionary knee procedure a few weeks after the Bucks' season ended at the hands of the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. A cleanup procedure was done to address Giannis' knee issues, which bothered him this past season.

And while Giannis' competitive nature will surely see him do everything humanly possible to play for his home country, that decision may not be entirely up to him, as the Bucks' medical staff will have the final say on whether or not he should take a break after the long and punishing NBA season. In addition, the Bucks' decision-makers will surely want Giannis to be 100 percent healthy once the season starts so that he can lead them on their trail of redemption.

Unstoppable in international play

Giannis last played for Greece in the EuroBasket tournament in September of 2022 where he led them to the quarterfinals, eventually losing to Germany. He was virtually unstoppable in that competition, as he averaged 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He highlighted that stint with a remarkable 41-point performance against Ukraine in the group phase.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.