Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo announced on Instagram on Friday his package with Greece for the Basketball World Cup, of which he was to be one of the headliners.
He explains that tested by his NBA season, “he is not ready to compete at the level required to participate in a World Cup”.
“I’m very disappointed with this conclusion, but it’s a decision that was made with the medical team,” said the 28-year-old center.
Greece begin their World Cup on August 26 against Jordan, in a group that also includes the United States.
With this announcement, Giannis Antetokounmpo has put an end to weeks of uncertainty about his participation in the Basketball World Cup with Greece.
Absent from preparation with the Greek selection, the “Greek Freak” had knee surgery in early July and his participation remained uncertain.
“After months of work and several meetings with the medical team it is clear that I am not ready to play at the level I need to participate in the World Cup,” the 28-year-old wrote in a press release published on its social networks (Twitter, renamed X, Instagram and Facebook).
“It wasn’t a choice but the only option to make sure I got back to the level of basketball I worked so hard for. I am extremely disappointed,” lamented the NBA star.
He stressed that “his ultimate personal and collective goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games and it will be an honor to represent my national team next year”, he concluded.
Without its star, Greece lost its last two preparation matches against Serbia (64-71) and Italy (70-74), as part of the Acropolis Tournament.
The selection led by Dimitris Itoudis is in Group C of the World Cup with New Zealand, Jordan, and the United States.