Giannis Antetokounmpo Still Waiting for Bucks’ OK to Join Greece at EuroBasket
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Milwaukee, WI — Giannis Antetokounmpo has yet to join Greece’s EuroBasket squad because the Milwaukee Bucks have not provided the written clearance required under NBA–FIBA insurance rules, according to Eurohoops reporters Aris Barkas and Stavros Barbarousis.
The two-time NBA MVP falls under a special provision that compels clubs to sign off on international play when a player’s contract exceeds the payout ceiling of FIBA’s insurance program. The Greek basketball federation covers the policy, but the cap is insufficient to protect Antetokounmpo’s long-term NBA deal, sources told Eurohoops.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić are affected by the same clause, yet both are already practicing and appearing in exhibition games with their national teams, the report noted.
Under the NBA–FIBA agreement, league players may report to national-team training camps 28 days before a major FIBA event. Greece opens EuroBasket play on August 28, meaning Antetokounmpo would have been eligible to start workouts at the beginning of the month if the insurance hurdle had been cleared.
The 30-year-old forward has missed three Greek tune-ups thus far and is not expected to face Montenegro on Thursday. Greece will compete in the Acropolis Tournament before closing its exhibition schedule on August 24 against France, but Antetokounmpo’s availability for any of those games remains in doubt.
The hold-up comes amid ongoing questions about Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee. Earlier this month, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the star remains unsure whether he can capture another NBA championship with the Bucks, reigniting trade speculation.
Source: Hoops Rumors
