NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed his official decision not to participate in the upcoming FIBA World Cup. He has emphasized his intention to focus on the 2024 Olympic Games.
In a recent social media post, Antetokounmpo has expressed regrets over his decision to miss out on the World Cup. He revealed that this choice was predominantly influenced by the advice of his medical team, which had carefully considered his health and overall well-being.
Everyone knows my passion and love for my National Team has and never will change. Since the conclusion of my NBA season I have been pushing my body to the limits to be the player I need to be to help our team achieve the goals we set.
But after months of work and multiple… pic.twitter.com/1uhTlfNZVE— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) August 11, 2023
He added that a demanding NBA season and his unwavering dedication prompted him to strive for peak physical form in preparation for the World Championship. However, according to Antetokounmpo, it has become evident that he has not fully recovered the required level necessary for competition at the World Cup.
The NBA star acknowledged that surpassing these limitations would pose a risk to his health.
Antetokounmpo concluded his message by looking towards the future. He emphasized that both on a personal level and for the national team, the collective goal is to secure a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games.
He expressed that it would be a great honor for him to represent Greece in the forthcoming Games.
As previously reported, Greece’s preliminary roster for the upcoming basketball World Cup featured Giannis Antetokounmpo despite lingering doubts over his availability due to a recent left knee procedure.
The World Cup will take place in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10, 2023.
Antetokounmpo’s injury
In early July, news emerged that Antetokounmpo underwent a knee procedure a couple of weeks prior, raising concerns about his readiness for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
During the 2022-23 regular season, Antetokounmpo participated in sixty-three of the possible eighty-two games, facing a five-game absence in mid-January due to left knee soreness. He suffered a right knee injury in late February and missed the following game due to a right quad contusion.
Having a history of knee discomfort, Antetokounmpo’s past includes a left knee hyperextension in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
Home in Athens
Early in June, Antetokounmpo purchased a lavish new home in the tranquil suburb of Psychiko in Athens. The modern apartment complex, reportedly acquired for approximately ten million euros, occupies a spacious 1,500 square meters. The basketball phenom was captured on video, donning Greece National Team shorts and a Bucks shirt, as he and a friend moved belongings into the futuristic property.
Notably, this isn’t Giannis’ first real estate venture in Greece. Alongside his brother Thanasis, he has invested in two Costa Navarino Residences, an exclusive resort in the southern region of the Peloponnese. Expressing his attachment to the region, Giannis has called it a safe and enriching environment for his children’s growth.
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