Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Greece’s upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers this August.
Having played continuously since mid-March, the superstar has not been cleared by his new team, the Miami Heat. Miami is taking a cautious approach to manage the 31-year-old’s workload and injury risk following a demanding stretch, which included a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise late last season in Milwaukee.
This conservative management comes as Antetokounmpo prepares for his first season in South Beach. The Heat recently acquired the two-time MVP alongside Bobby Portis in a blockbuster deal that sent Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, and major draft assets to the Bucks.
Last month Antetokounmpo said he hoped to wear the blue-and-white jersey again when Greece returns to FIBA World Cup qualifying, reaffirming his commitment to the national team while explaining why NBA players often struggle to participate in international competitions.
Without Antetokounmpo, Greece faces a tough road ahead. Carrying a 3-3 record into the Second Round of qualifying (Group I), they sit just one win behind the current qualification threshold. They kick off this crucial window on August 28 against Ukraine in Riga, Latvia, before returning home to Athens to host group-leading Spain (5-1) on August 31.
With opening-round results carrying over and only the top three teams in Group I earning a direct ticket to Qatar in 2027, Greece has little room for error across the remaining qualification windows in August, November, and February.
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