Greece Federation Clears The Air About Giannis and EuroBasket

The Greece Federation on Monday responded to what it called malicious reports about Giannis Antentokounmpo and his status for the EuroBasket Tournament. 

The statment from the Federation read: 

"The  Federation doesn’t bother with and doesn’t answer to anything malicious regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s participation with the national team that has been written in the last few days. All these circles that have created these are guided by “para-centers” that knew very well that everything they were saying and writing was lies. They manufactured a non-existent issue because their sole goal was to mislead public opinion and harm the unitu and concentration of the national team with their lies.  Unfortunately, it’s one more sample of some people using the national team to transmit their toxicity to basketball."

There have been reports about the Bucks not wanting their superstar to participate in the tournaments. Per his contract, the team has to give him permision in order for him to participate.

There have been serious injuries in these types of events in other sports. Jose Altuve broke his leg and Edwin Diaz tore his ACL during the World Baseball Classic. Manu Ginobili played injured during the 2008 Olympics and had to have surgery which cut into the regular season. 

Antentokounmpo, though, is fiercely proud of his connection to Greece and it would hurt him if they Bucks were disallow him to play in an international tournament. With rumors about a trade of the player swirling for years, Milwaukee will look to do whatever they can to keep him happy.