Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has become an Olympian.
The Greek men’s basketball team defeated Croatia 80-69 in the finals of the four qualification tournaments competing for spots in the 12-team field for the Paris Olympics, with Antetokounmpo scoring 23 points.
Greece earned its first Olympic berth since 2008 with 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 Receives Incredible News Ahead Of Paris Olympics
According to Journalist Harris Stavrou:
OFFICIAL: Hellenic Olympic Committee decided that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Antigoni Drisbioti will be the Flag Bearers for Greece at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and will lead the athletes’ parade – SPORT24
In this historic moment for Greece, Antetokounmpo becomes the first Black athlete to bear its flag.
In response to a question concerning holding a flag after the Croatia match, Antetokounmpo said that it is possible.
“That is an honor,” he said. “If I am the flagbearer, great. If I am not, OK. I am just happy that I have a good coaching staff and a good team, I am in the Olympics. I just want to go and compete. But I would enjoy every moment.”
Despite being born in Greece, Antetokounmpo is of Nigerian descent, and the racism and fear he experienced growing up has been 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 selected by New York in the 2014 draft).
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