By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
Greece guard Thomas Walkup tried to put his emotions into words after his national team booked the ticket to the 2024 Olympic games by winning the Qualifying Tournament of Piraeus.
“I’m thankful now and forever thankful that Greece has given me this opportunity,” said Walkup with a beaming smile all over his face after the victory of Greece over Croatia in the OQT Final. “It’s extremely special. Now that I’ve been here for three years it feels different than if maybe I’d gotten the passport in the first year and we went right away. I feel a true connection to the country. How people have treated me. How welcoming everybody has been.”
“It’s extremely special.”
The American-born Walkup officially received Greek citizenship in April 2023. He’s been playing in Greece since 2021 when he signed with Olympiacos Piraeus.
“I think that the timing is right for it to feel these emotions properly and what it means to represent a country and go to the Olympics,” Walkup added.
As a sports fan, Walkup has been the Olympic Games action admiring multimedalist legends Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps. “Those are the guys when I think of the Olympics. These are some of the greatest athletes of all times. It’s special to go to an event and a tournament where that caliber of athletes is.”
Walkup finished the Olympic Qualifying Tournament with 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 26.9 minutes. Throughout the competition, the reigning EuroLeague DPOY was consistently delivering his trademark, stubborn and restless defense that can be excruciating for any opponent.
As member of the Greek team’s starting 5, Walkup shared the floor with EuroLeague star guard Nick Calathes in a partnership that he’s been enjoying thoroughly for many reasons. As he had previously told Eurohoops, among other things, having another ball-handling facilitator next to him, allows him keep more energy in his tanks in order to be able to contribute to all areas on the floor and be more energetic on the defensive end.
In the Final vs. Croatia, Calathes put on a playmaking clinic of 11 assists to go with his 14 points plus five rebounds. Walkup loved watching the show.
“This is why he’s a legendary point guard and the all-time leader in assists,” Walkup commented. He’s really-really good at what he does. He was unbelievable tonight. Scoring. Distributing. Really great game by him.”