Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo in MVP form to start the Olympics despite loss

The 2024 Olympic Games kicked off this weekend with the world's best athletes across a number of sports showing off their talents in Paris. Saturday, July 27 saw the men's basketball kick-off, with the highlight game of the day being Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo's Greece team take on Canada in Lille.

Despite the two-time MVP's best attempts, Canada ran out 86-79 winners, but the game was close in the fourth quarter.

Antetokounmpo finished the game with 34 points and five rebounds as he led all scorers, shooting 11-for-17 from the field (65 percent). Even more promising for Bucks fans, he was a superb 12-for-15 from the free throw line (80 percent).

Greece struggled to help Giannis, with Kostas Papanikolaou scoring 17 and being the only player to score double figures. The rest of Greece scored a combined 45 points on 12-of-42 field goal shooting, which ultimately led to Canada being able to pull away late.

Not the start Greece wanted but behind Giannis' lead, they can progress

Greece hadn't played basketball at the Olympics since 2008. Giannis Antetokounmpo has helped lead them there and had the honor to be one of the flag bearers alongside race walker Antigoni Drisbioti as the Greek boat led out all the nations along the River Seine in the opening ceremony.

It was a difficult start but one that will stand Greece in good stead. Bar Giannis, they shot poorly and still only lost by seven to one of the favorites in the competition. RJ Barrett led Canada with 23 points, and the OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 21 points. The overall team splits were similar, but ultimately, the Canadians made their shots down the stretch, having only been leading by two with a minute to go.

Group A is a wide open group, with Australia beating Spain earlier in the day, and Canada likely being the favorites to win the group and one of the favorites to medal. But the other two teams are both very talented with a mix of NBA and EuroLeague talent, with Greece hoping to aid Giannis' fantastic performance when they take on Spain at 4 a.m. CST on July 30.

Spain opened the Olympics by falling to a 92-80 defeat to Australia earlier in the day, so for both them and Greece, it is almost a must win game if you want to progress to the knockout stages.

Santi Aldama of the Memphis Grizzlies impressed with 27 points, aided by Sergio Llull's 17 points and Willy Hernangomez's 14 points. They also struggled from three, hitting just 32.4 percent as a team, so that could be the determining factor as to who wins between Spain and Greece.

Greece then faces Australia in their final group game on August 2 at 6:30 a.m. CST.

Make sure to stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks news and how Giannis Antetokounmpo does as he leads his nation at the Olympics.