Fresh off Greece’s triumphant run at EuroBasket 2025, Giannis Antetokounmpo is still soaking in the moment. The Greek superstar, who helped propel his national team to a podium finish for the first time in 16 years, opened up about what it means to represent his country—and the sacrifices that come with it.
On Greece’s EuroBasket journey
“The most important thing I learned is to be available,” Giannis reflected. “When you’re there, you can help your team reach new heights. That was my goal all summer. No matter the outcome, you always get the chance to respond. We had an incredible summer. People ranked us eighth or ninth, sometimes not even in the top ten. And yet, we finished third in Europe—something Greece hadn’t achieved in 16 years.”
A win beyond basketball
For Giannis, the success went far deeper than medals.
“I’m very happy, not just for myself but for all of Greece. This builds confidence for our country, especially when you look at the progress of recent years. Seeing millions of people stop whatever they were doing to watch us—it’s unique. I hope we can create more moments like this for them.”
Choosing between NBA and the national team
Balancing his NBA career with Milwaukee and his commitment to Greece is no simple task. Giannis was candid about the dilemma:
“If I had to choose between the NBA and the national team, it’s tough. At the end of the day, I have to take care of my family. Wearing the national jersey is the biggest honor and the most exciting feeling, but we don’t get paid for it. People don’t understand—we spend two or three months away from our families to do this. I’ve played in nine tournaments, and in eight of them, we didn’t succeed. Sometimes you feel the disappointment and even humiliation when you don’t bring back a medal.”
And yet, his love for Greece is unwavering.
“If there were a way to make a living just playing for the national team, I’d do it without hesitation. But realistically, there’s no European league that compares to the NBA. If it were the same, I’d wear the national jersey every day.”
