Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Greece’s upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Spain as he continues his return to competitive basketball following an injury-hit season.
The 31-year-old wanted to represent Greece in the upcoming qualifying window, according to national teams manager Dimos Dikoudis, but the decision was made because of concerns over the physical risk of returning to high-intensity competition after several months without an official game.
Antetokounmpo played only 36 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season and has not appeared since mid-March. He recently joined the Miami Heat and is expected to focus on his gradual return to full fitness ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
“For this window, both the Greek Basketball Federation and the national team coach wanted Giannis to participate,” Dikoudis said on the federation’s web radio. “Giannis wanted to help the national team, as he has done throughout the years and will continue to do.”
Dikoudis said Miami also supports Antetokounmpo representing Greece but that playing official games at this stage would carry an unnecessary injury risk.
