After an injury-riddled season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo will not suit up for Greece in the FIBA World Cup games in July and August. The star forward explained to broadcaster ANT1 how he is healthy after a turbulent year with the Bucks but will hold off for the time being as he hopes to return next year.
“I cannot play in the World Cup qualifying windows. I really wanted to play with the national team, because I did not play much with the Bucks this season due to injury. Now that I’m healthy, I wanted to play, but we will wait until 2027."
Giannis will get some rest this summer, thankfully
Giannis' participation in summer events has always been a controversial topic. He's risking injury to play games that do not count toward his significant NBA salary. With late-season injuries costing him time in recent years, the disdain surrounding his participation has only increased. It would have been a chaotic situation if he had decided to participate this summer.
The Greek Freak participated in a career-low 36 games this season, spending most of his time on the sidelines as he dealt with an array of injuries. Struggling to stay healthy as the Bucks missed the NBA Playoffs but then participating in international play would have raised plenty of red flags. Now, he can spend the offseason rightfully resting and working his way back into shape.
A healthy Giannis is the most important factor
The Milwaukee Bucks will explore two routes this summer: one involving trading Giannis and one involving keeping him. In either scenario, he needs to be healthy. Him specifically saying in the interview that he is healthy is a great sign, letting everyone know that he has put the injuries in the rearview and that he's ready to move forward.
Having Giannis healthy will be essential in any possible trade conversations, if the Milwaukee Bucks do go down that road. If he were still battling his way back from injury, teams would have a point if they tried lowballing the Bucks. Now, Milwaukee can drive a hard bargain for one of the best players in the world and get the best possible offer.
If they keep him, obviously, the Bucks would like to have Giannis healthy. The team had many issues this past season, but one could argue that the Greek Freak's health was the main problem. Winning when your star player appears in just 36 games would be tough for any team. To kick off next season on the right foot, they need him healthy and ready to roll.
It's a breath of fresh air to know that Giannis Antetokounmpo is beginning his summer restfully.
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