World Basketball Championships, Giannis Antetokounmpo forced to step back

No World Cup for Giannis Antetokounmpo

The basketball World Cup that kicks off next August 25 loses another star player on the road, Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo. It was the Milwaukee Bucks basketball player, one of the strongest in the current NBA landscape, who announced a forfeit that comes after those of Nikola Jokic for Serbia and Victor Wembanyama for France.

“Everyone knows that my passion and love for my National Team has not changed and will never change,” the 2021 NBA champion (and Finals MVP), as well as the best player of the past two regular seasons, began in a post published on Instagram. “Since the conclusion of my NBA season, I have pushed my body to the limit to be the player I need to be to help our team achieve the goals we have set for ourselves. But after months of work and multiple meetings with the medical staff it has become clear that I am not ready to compete at the level I should be at to participate in the World Cup.”

“This was not a choice, but my only option to make sure I return to the level I have worked so hard for, so far in my career,” added Giannis. “I am extremely saddened by this withdrawal, but it was a decision made with the medical staff.

“I will continue to train to be ready on the next occasion when I am called up. My personal and team goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympics and it will be an honor to represent my national team next year,” concluded Antetokounmpo.