Milwaukee forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo said his energetic return to game action at EuroBasket 2025 played a key role in the Bucks decision to bring him back for another season.
General manager Jon Horst, head coach Doc Rivers and lead assistant Darvin Ham traveled to Crete on Thursday to watch Greece defeat Italy in its tournament opener. Antetokounmpo, 33, logged his first official minutes since surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in May 2024, finishing with six points, three rebounds, one steal and one block in just under 14 minutes.
“They were excited because I was playing defense. I was doing my job; that’s my role,” Antetokounmpo told reporters, according to Eurohoops.net and BasketNews.com. “Every player coming back from a major injury has to prove himself again. Your résumé counts, but you have to prove yourself every day.”
The veteran forward missed the entire 2024-25 NBA season after spending the previous five years with Milwaukee. His performance against Italy included a late fourth-quarter three-pointer that helped Greece secure the win.
Antetokounmpo emphasized that signing a new contract has not eased his focus. “The only thing I’m thinking about now is Tuesday’s game with Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said. “I put in a lot of work to be able to return.”
Greece advanced to the EuroBasket 2025 knockout stage on Sunday, setting up a continued showcase for Antetokounmpo as he works his way back to full NBA form.
Source: HoopsRumors
