By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Greek Freak announced via his social media that he is not ready to play in the tournament, as it was proven in the tests he took for the Bucks today in China.
Antetokounmpo had left the training camp for the Greek national team due to NBA promotional duty and spend the last few days in Asia. As he wrote:
“I want everyone to be informed by me that I will not be able to play for the Greek national team in the upcoming Eurobasket. All this time I was pressuring myself to practice. I was trying to fool myself and not feel the pain, hoping that I will be ready for the official games. My will affected my judgement, but in the tests I took here in China with the Bucks personnel, it was time for the truth.
I failed in the tests I was put to and the reason was the pain I felt from the first seconds. I can accept the truth and deal with it in a mature manner. I have to work and improve as much as I can the condition of my knee.
Last summer I had the option to “freeze” the deal for my contract extension. This year I have no choice. I am injured, I feel pain and I must heal.
This is by far the biggest disappointment that I have felt until now in my career. I want to wish the best from the bottom of my heart to my teammates and coaches. The national team is my favorite team and in the future, I will prove together with my teammates that we can achieve high goals and make all Greeks happy.
However, for now, the present is the priority. I urge the fans to not give bigger proportions to my absence and to concentrate on the players who will fight in the upcoming Eurobasket for a success that has been missing for years. History is written by those who are present and I have with great sorrow to accept and announce that I will be absent.
Giannis Antetokounmpo”