Giannis Antetokounmpo ready to return for Greece after missing previous FIBA window

Giannis explains why he missed the last qualifiers

Giannis Antetokounmpo says he expects to be back with the Greek national team for the next FIBA qualifying window and clarified why he wasn’t involved in the two recent losses to Romania and Portugal. It wasn’t about reluctance to play for his country — the issue came down to insurance and availability rules that apply to NBA players.

Because NBA contracts are large, there are specific insurance requirements for players who want to suit up for their national teams. Giannis said those protections need to be in place before an NBA player can join, and in this case the arrangements weren’t finalized. He also revealed he wasn’t even called into the squad for those two games, as the federation felt Greece could handle those opponents without him — a judgement that proved costly.

Back on board and focused on Ukraine and Spain

Greece now faces two important qualifiers on August 28 and August 31 against Ukraine and Spain. With pressure on after the unexpected defeats, Giannis made it clear he’s committed to showing up if head coach Vassilis Spanoulis calls him up. He noted that he has a strong track record of answering the national team’s call throughout his career.

Should he be available, his presence would be a major lift as Greece tries to get its qualifying campaign back on track. Giannis kept things simple: if he’s selected and the team is at full strength, he’ll be there to help try to win the games and secure a World Cup spot.