While the Milwaukee Bucks’ management was busy with this week’s NBA Draft picks (welcome AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith!), Giannis Antetokounmpo made a comeback on the basketball court, leading Greece to a 102-75 win against the Bahamas in a recent friendly match. Key moments included:
Antetokounmpo made his first appearance since injuring his left leg (a calf strain) in early April against the Boston Celtics. Despite the Bucks’ efforts to expedite his return for the NBA Playoffs, it became evident after their first-round exit that a swift comeback was unlikely without a deep playoff advancement.
Despite his injury and recovery, he committed to joining the Greek National Team ahead of the Olympic qualifiers and has been with the team for several weeks. Initially sitting out the first few exhibition games to participate in live practices for the first time in months, he finally made his debut yesterday in a friendly against the Bahamas in Piraeus, Greece.
He ended the game with 14 points, shooting 5 for 6 from the field and 4 for 6 from the free throw line. He also contributed 5 rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Importantly, he appeared physically agile and appeared to have benefited from nearly two months away from the intense demands of daily basketball. There was no sign of hesitation as he sprinted down the court, executed aggressive footwork to secure post position, or performed stop-and-go actions that typically stress his lower legs. Encouragingly, he even managed a few dunks and lob finishes. His defensive involvement was slightly reduced, likely due to his specific role rather than any lingering injury concerns.
As I understand it, Greece concluded their friendly matches ahead of the start of pre-Olympic qualifying group play next week. They are scheduled to play against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, July 3rd, and will also compete against Egypt in their subgroup. Following this, they will compete against the team that advances from the other subgroup consisting of Slovenia, New Zealand, and Croatia, to secure a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this July.
