Greece’s basketball team is officially advancing to the Olympic Games quarterfinal round where on Tuesday they play against Germany for a place in the semis.
Greece finished third in the group face. To progress to the next round they needed Serbia to beat South Sudan on Saturday. The Serbs did their job winning 96-85.
Greece made the elimination round along with Germany, Serbia, Australia, France, Canada, Brazil and the United States.
Greece made this a possibility by beating Australia 77-71 in their final group play game, bringing their differential to -8.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led his country to the first and crucial win in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Milwaukee Bucks star had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in almost 33 minutes on the court.
Greece dominated the first half and especially in the second period. It established a lead of 17 points against the Aussies. However, the “Boomers” came back in the second half and closed the gap.
Next opponents, Germany have proven to be quite formidable during the Olympic games finishing 3-0 and +47 in point differential during group play.
With NBA regulars like Daniel Theis, Dennis Schröder and Orlando Magic brothers Moritz and Franz Wagner on the roster, the German team is not going to go down without a major fight.
Antetokounmpo is proud to play for Greece in the Olympic Games
After the Australia clash Giannis Antetokounmpo said: “We wanted to be on this stage for a long time, but we weren’t fortunate enough. I’m trying to enjoy every single day, with my teammates. Like, I remember that game the first day, I texted my wife and I told her ‘I cannot stop smiling.’ It’s just the atmosphere and the vibe is just different.”
Backed by Antetokounmpo, Greece made it to the Paris Games by winning a qualifying tournament earlier this month.
It put Greece back in the Olympic basketball tournament for the first time since it made the 12-team field in Beijing in 2008, and just the fifth time overall. Playing in the Olympics is one of the few things the two-time NBA MVP hadn’t achieved.
It came with another honor he didn’t see coming: being the flag bearer during the opening ceremony.
Antetokounmpo, who led the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 NBA title, reluctantly accepted. He initially asked for Greece captain Kostas Papanikolaou to have the honor instead, but in the end Antetokounmpo is glad he did it.
The trip down the Seine only deepened his appreciation for representing his country.
“Just the energy from the moment that we went to the ceremony and, with all Greek athletes and, teammates and lifting up the flag and seeing people come out and in Paris to say that they got to cheer for us — and going back and competing in the games and see how the crowds get into it and, how people are really competing,” he said.
“It really heightens the stage. It’s incredible.”