(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks were the best team in the last NBA regular season.
However, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs vs. the Miami Heat sealed their fate sooner than expected.
The Greek Freak missed most of the series as the Bucks were knocked out in just five games, putting an end to a rather promising campaign.
Giannis has worked tirelessly in his rehab process ever since, as he was looking forward to playing for the Greek national team in the upcoming FIBA World Cup again.
However, he recently announced on Twitter that he’s not going to be able to partake in the tournament, as he’s not in the place he needs to be just yet.
Everyone knows my passion and love for my National Team has and never will change. Since the conclusion of my NBA season I have been pushing my body to the limits to be the player I need to be to help our team achieve the goals we set.
But after months of work and multiple… pic.twitter.com/1uhTlfNZVE
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) August 11, 2023
Giannis apologized and claimed that his ultimate goal is to help Greece qualify for the Olympics in 2024 and reaffirmed his love and commitment to the national team, stating that this wasn’t a choice but his only option at this point.
Notably, Giannis has never been one to shy away from this kind of competition, and even though he’s struggled in FIBA basketball from time to time, he’s still faced criticism and continued to work on his game.
Antetokounmpo is one of the most durable players in the league, so the fact that he’s still not ready speaks volumes of the magnitude of the injury he endured vs. the Heat.
He still has a lengthy career ahead of him, which is why he cannot take any risks and has to let his body heal.
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