Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals major decision on World Cup participation

For weeks, all eyes were on Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the FIBA World Cup as everyone wondered if the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar would participate in the event.

Antetokounmpo has been recovering from a minor knee procedure done earlier this off-season, which involved cleaning up loose cartilage. It was unclear just how healthy Antetokounmpo may be by the time the World Cup rolled around, leaving his status up in the air… Until now. According to Giannis himself, he will not participate due to the recovery time needed for his knee.

The Greek Freak noted that he’s incredibly disappointed that he will not be able to represent the team he loves, but it was a decision made by him and the medical staff. He hopes for Greece to qualify for the 2024 Olympics, where his personal goal is to join and represent them.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals major decision on World Cup participation

Ultimately, while it’s tough for Antetokounmpo, this was the right call if that knee is still not back to full strength. There’s no reason to put himself in harm’s way with a recovering knee, as it could be incredibly dangerous. Now, Antetokounmpo can focus on rehabbing and getting back to his top form ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season.

With training camp about a month away from starting, Antetokounmpo now has some extra time to get himself back into form without having to worry about high-intensity basketball. There’s no denying that Giannis would have done everything in his power to try and propel Greece to victory.

Bucks fans can still keep an eye on Greece to watch Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who just inked a new deal with Milwaukee. They have another dog in the fight as well with Bobby Portis, who is currently suiting up for Team USA. These two are set to square off in an exhibition game in the coming days, which will be an interesting watch for Milwaukee Bucks fans.

For now, we all wish Giannis Antetokounmp a speedy recovery as NBA training camp inches closer with each passing day.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and breakdowns this NBA off-season.