Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance is transcending to EuroBasket 2022 as he appears to guide Greece to medal

September 5, 2022

9 seasons, two MVPs, one Defensive Participant of the 12 months, one Finals MVP and one championship into his NBA profession, we have grown accustomed to seeing Giannis Antetokounmpo defy the peculiar each time he steps on a basketball courtroom.

From his go-go gadget blocks, to protecting all the size of the courtroom in two dribbles, to his bulldozing drives, demolishing anybody in his path, Antetokounmpo is an unstoppable pressure who’s making an attempt to place a whole nation on his again at EuroBasket 2022.

The final time we noticed Antetokounmpo on a global stage on the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the celebrity ahead did not get Greece previous the Group Stage. Broadly thought of the perfect participant on the earth after coming off of his first MVP season, it was a surprising sight to see Antetokounmpo battle in FIBA play the way in which he did. Would he be capable of put that efficiency behind him and look extra just like the participant we see on an NBA flooring?

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It did not take lengthy to get a solution to that query, as Antetokounmpo went off for 40 factors in opposition to Serbia in a FIBA World Cup Qualifier main into EuroBasket 2022.

Though it got here in a loss, he turned the primary participant in World Cup Qualifier historical past to succeed in the 40-point threshold, giving followers a style of the power he would carry to the European match.

His power, energy and pressure on the courtroom left his opponents shell-shocked. After going off for a 31-point double-double in a EuroBasket pleasant tune-up in opposition to Spain, veteran guard Quino Colom was surprised by the Greek Freak.

“I’ve by no means seen something like that in my life,” Colom stated of Antetokounmpo.

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“He is probably the most fascinating gamers in European basketball, for positive. Greece will struggle quite a bit,” Colom continued.

When requested how somebody can cease Giannis, Colom was trustworthy together with his reply. “I do not know. If somebody is aware of, please inform me.”

It is a solution that each nation competing at EuroBasket is searching for, as Antetokoumpo is averaging a jaw-dropping 26.0 factors, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and a couple of.0 blocks via Greece’s first two video games of the match, resulting in an ideal 2-0 report thus far.

In Greece’s opening match in opposition to Croatia, Antetokounmpo had a flashback to the 2019 NBA Finals with a game-saving block and transition end (this time, multi functional play) — one thing that solely the 6-foot-11 wunderkind is able to doing.

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He completed with 27 factors, 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and one steal, main his workforce to a detailed four-point win.

In Greece’s second contest in opposition to Italy, Antetokounmpo crushed any hopes of a spirited comeback with a viral poster dunk late within the fourth quarter, capping off a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double to get his workforce one step nearer to advancing previous the Group Stage.

Antetokounmpo is trying to cement his Greek legacy at EuroBasket, making an attempt to land his nation on the rostrum for the primary time in over a decade and a half. Greece gained Gold at EuroBasket in 2005 and Silver on the 2006 FIBA World Cup, however the nation has been in a drought since then.

The Greek Freak is competing with a burning ardour each night time, making him must-see TV each time he takes the ground.

With the load of his nation on his shoulders, Antetokounmpo has the chance to cross off one other merchandise on his profession guidelines, including to what’s already an all-time nice resume on the age of 27.