By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo recently revealed that he doesn’t watch basketball, particularly referring to a blowout win by the Boston Celtics over the Golden State Warriors.
He corrected himself while talking to Amerikanos24, admitting that he does watch EuroLeague basketball, especially games featuring Greek teams and his brother Kostas, who plays for Panathinaikos. However, he clarified that he primarily watches highlights rather than full matches.
“I watch both Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. I won’t lie to you; I don’t watch all the games; I watch the highlights. I think Panathinaikos is third, and Olympiacos is fourth. I wish them both the best. I hope that Kostas comes back healthy and strong, able to contribute the best he can for his team, helping them win as many games as possible. Like I said, I wish both teams the best. I’m watching but not watching the matches. I only watch the highlights. I like it a lot. I don’t watch the NBA,” Antetokounmpo stated.
He expressed his interest in the Greek national team and desire to play in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I would love to play in the Olympics. It’s far away, four or five months from now. I’m not gonna lie to you. In my mind right now… I’m not thinking about the Olympics. Sure, I watch the guys playing, and I saw the last win they had. They were awesome down there against the Netherlands. They turned the game around, played defense in the last few minutes, moved the ball around, got free shots, played really well.”
Greece has a new head coach in Vassilis Spanoulis, and Giannis expressed excitement about the prospect of playing under his guidance.
“I would love to be a part of this team that has energy, playing with a lot of confidence, but it definitely comes from the coach, Vassilis Spanoulis. He played 18-20 years of basketball. He knows the game of basketball and allows you to showcase your talent. He also lets you play freely, and I think as long as you play to win and as long as you’re playing to help the team, he lets you do what you have to do to show your talent out there.”
The Milwaukee Bucks star hopes that his national team will qualify for the Paris tournament, emphasizing that participating in the Olympic Games is an athlete’s dream.
“When that moment comes, I’d like us to do well at the Pre-Olympic and hopefully get a qualification for the Olympics. I think in 2016, eight years ago, we had a chance to go against Croatia and we lost, but that was the closest I’ve ever been to the Olympics. It’s an athlete’s dream to be at Olympic Village, to be able to wear the Greek flag on their chest, to be out there with his teammates, and trying to do the best for his team. Hopefully, God will bless me, and I can do it,” Giannis Antetokounmpo concluded.