NBA basketball and FIBA basketball are quite different.
You could see how much NBA stars struggled to adapt to the court, the ball, the rules, and the referees, and some players who played overseas often say that making the transition to the NBA is easier.
That could explain why Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled so much the last time he suited up for the Greek national team.
Despite being one of the most dominant players in the NBA, Giannis averaged roughly 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.4 steals per game on 52.2% shooting during the FIBA World Cup in 2019.
And, while those numbers may not be bad for an average player, we’re talking about one of the top-notch scorers in the league.
More than that, opposing defenses exposed Giannis night in and night out, collapsing the paint and preventing him from getting to the rim.
That’s why he’s looking forward to redeeming himself and bringing his A-Game to the Greek team in the EuroBasket tournament next season:
“Taking it day by day. But I can’t wait,” the reigning Finals MVP said.
Taking it day by day. But I can’t wait 💪🏾🔥🇬🇷 https://t.co/I08HlPUAuM
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) September 3, 2021
It seems like Giannis has committed to playing for Greece next summer after the season. Then again, an injury or another trip to the NBA Finals could change his plans in the blink of an eye.
EuroBasket will most likely feature some of the biggest stars in the basketball world, such as Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, or Rudy Gobert, so having a player like Giannis would only make it more interesting to watch.
Giannis has made yearly strides as a player and sure learns from his mistakes. He’s still not a good shooter but you better believe he has a chip on his shoulder from the World Cup and is looking forward to silencing his critics once again.
