Giannis Antetokounmpo made an interesting statement regarding the EuroLeague teams he has been watching as well as his participation in the 2024 Olympic Games should the Greek national team win one of the four Qualifying Tournaments.
The “Greek Freak” revealed that he doesn’t watch NBA games, but instead he follows the action in the EuroLeague and most importantly, the games of Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.
“I watch both Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. I don’t watch all the games but the highlights. I wish both of the teams the best. I watch [them play], but I’m not watching full games. I only see the highlights. I like it a lot. I don’t watch the NBA, but I do watch the EuroLeague,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said during an interview with Amerikanos24, via Basketnews.com.
Olympiacos (17-11) and Panathinaikos (18-10) will collide in a must-win game at Peace and Friendship Stadium on Thursday, where the winner will claim the tiebreaker as well. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s younger brother, Kostas, has been playing for the “Greens”, but could miss Thursday’s game due to injury.
Giannis Antetokounmpo expresses desire to play in the 2024 Olympic Games
Giannis Antetokounmpo is focused on his season with the Milwaukee Bucks and his effort to lead the franchise back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2021. Still, he expressed the desire to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games should Greece make it to the final stage of the tournament.
“I’d love to play in the Olympics. But it’s still far away. It’s 4-5 months from now. I won’t lie to you — I don’t have the Olympics in my mind right now, and I don’t think about it. But when that moment comes, I’d very much like to do well in the pre-Olympics and hopefully get a qualification for the main event,” the two-time NBA MVP said.
“Eight years ago, in 2016, we had a chance to qualify for the [Rio] Olympics when we played against Croatia but lost. This was the closest I’ve been to the Olympics. It’s every athlete’s dream to be in the Olympic Village, to be able to wear the national emblem, be out there with their teammates, and try to do the best for their team.”
The Qualifying Tournaments will be played between July 2-7, while the Olympics will start in late July (July 27 – August 11). 24 teams will be competing for the four final spots in the 2024 Olympics. Greece will host one of the Qualifying Tournaments in Pireaus.
