By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo fully joined the Greek national team’s practices on Saturday (August 16).
As Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis had mentioned after a win over Montenegro, Antetokounmpo began practicing with the rest of his teammates and is now preparing to make his summer debut with the national team.
Until now, Antetokounmpo was training but never in full contact with the rest of the Greek players due to a delay in the arrival of the written permission by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Antetokounmpo is expected to play his first game in the opener of the annual Akropolis Tournament against Kristaps Porzingis’ Latvia on Wednesday (20/8). Greece will also face Italy (22/8) and France (24/8) before the EuroBasket tips off on August 27.
Greece will face Italy, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and host Cyprus in Group C, which will be played in Limassol. The top four teams will advance to the knockout stage, held in Riga, Latvia.
Meanwhile, a video of Giannis slapping his teammate Giannoulis Larentzakis after the game against Montenegro went viral, and even Olympiacos‘ French star Evan Fournier commented jockingly on it.
If you dont listen to everything I say next season this is whats gonna happen @gianlary5 pic.twitter.com/wl9H4JyP9b
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) August 16, 2025
It has to be noted that Larentzakis grew up together with Giannis Antetokounmpo, attended the same high school, and they are close friends, still, this slap was totally unexpected.