The Fiba Eurobasket Championship 2022 is soon to be underway. The International event is loaded with NBA and European talent ready to represent their respective countries. In preparation for their campaigns, teams are playing friendly games to help players get into condition for the tournament.
One superstar to mention is the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis will be leading the Greece National Team in hopes of hoisting the Nikolai Semashko Trophy. A trophy that is given to the best team National Team in Europe. It is something the Greeks have only managed to do twice. Once in 1987 as they beat the Soviet Union 103-101, and again in 2005 defeating Germany 78-62.
We'll be back Milwaukee.. Thank you for a great season!! 🙏🏾💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/ZKNeW5962N — Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) May 17, 2022
The question is can the two-time NBA MVP lead his team to a championship? A feat that has eluded his country for 17 years.
When Giannis is on the court there is always a chance to win
Athens (Greece) – Giannis wowed his hometown fans, displaying how dominate of a player he is in a friendly game against Spain. The Spanish powerhouse had no answer for the ‘Greek Freak’ as he lived up to his nickname dropping 31 points and 10 rebounds in only 20 minutes of action! He also shot very efficiently3 PM from the field (9/10 2PT, 2/3 3PT, 7/10FT).
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs Spain Today 31 Points 10 Rebounds 3 Assists 2 3PM 85 FG% 67 3P% In only 20 Minutes His New Career High for Greece! pic.twitter.com/wXhh8kokLD — NBA Muse (@NBAMuse24) August 9, 2022
And to top it off he had the dunk of the night! As seen below Giannis catches an alley-oop pass and throws it down emphatically. The Spanish player falls to the ground, and as we have seen so often Giannis does his patented mean mug. If he can continue to be the dominant force we are used to seeing in the NBA it will be safe to say the “Greek God Has Arrived”. And it will hard for any team to beat the Greeks.
𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐃! 😳 🔥 Giannis against Spain in friendly game: 31 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal. In 20 minutes. 🤯 Career high in scoring with the national team. ✅ 🎥 @ert_world pic.twitter.com/K04TQKzzgt — FIBA (@FIBA) August 9, 2022
With that being said what do the betting agencies think about the Greek National Team’s chances?
Are the betting odds in favor of Greece?
According to Online Gambling, Serbia led by the two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is favored to win at +300 odds. Followed by France at (+450) and Slovenia the reigning Eurobasket Champions (+450). Greece is 4th at (+500). Despite being 4th the Greeks have a favorable group (Group C) in which they should advance to the next round. In Group C their opponents are Croatia, Italy, Estonia, Great Britain, and Ukraine.
Experienced Players Will Be A Key Factor For The Team
Debt and experience will turn out to be a key factor for Giannis and the Greek National Team if they want to win the Eurobasket Championship. Loaded with experienced Euroleague players like Kostas Sloukas, Nick Calathes, Kostas Papanikolaou, and talented 7’3 big man Georgios Papagiannis. What makes it more satisfying is his brothers will be alongside him on their quest to becoming champions.
Blessed to be able to do this together 💪🏾💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/2Wz1uqf7fO — Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) August 5, 2022
If you had the chance to watch the Disney movie “Rise” depicting the Antetokounmpo’s struggle from selling trinkets on the streets, to winning NBA titles how could you not root for them. If Giannis is able to bring a championship to Greece I expect a statue of him in Athens where it all began.