Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks became an Olympian.
The Greek men’s basketball team defeated Croatia 80-69 in the final of four qualifying tournaments, fighting for a place among the 12 teams for the Olympic Games in Paris. Antetokounmpo scored 23 points.
Greece secured a place at the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008 thanks to 19 points from Georgios Papagiannis and 14 points from Nick Calathes.
However, Giannis received even more good news after Greece qualified for the playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Gets Incredible News Ahead of Paris Olympics
According to the journalist Harris Stavrou:
OFFICIALLY: The Greek Olympic Committee has decided that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Antigoni Drisbioti will be Greece’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and will lead the athletes’ parade – SPORT24
At this historic moment for Greece, Antetokounmpo becomes the first black athlete to carry the country’s flag.
In response to a question about holding the flag after the game against Croatia, Antetokounmpo said it was possible.
“It’s an honor” he said“If I’m the standard-bearer, great. If not, OK. I’m happy that I have a good coaching staff and a good team, and I’m at the Olympics. I just want to go and compete. But I’d enjoy every moment.”
Although he was born in Greece, Antetokounmpo is a Nigerian descent and the racism and fear he experienced growing up are well-documented. It wasn’t until 2013 that he and his brother, Thanasis, were granted citizenship, allowing them to be drafted into the NBA (Thanasis played in the G League in 2013 and was drafted by New York in 2014).
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