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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ‘incredible’ brother praised after saving international career at EuroBasket, ‘He showed us’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 5:34 PM ET

Giannis Antetokounmpo might be Greece’s most important star, but it’s his brother who impressed everyone with his commitment.

Giannis Antetokounmpo established himself as a huge star in the NBA very quickly. And his first move after doing so was opening the door for his brothers.

Both Kostas and Thanasis Antetokounmpo got opportunities with the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, it was Kostas Antetokounmpo who first won a championship among the brothers, finding success with the LA Lakers in 2020.

It’s been a testament to the brother that Giannis is that he has helped his siblings earn opportunities in the NBA.

But these opportunities are just that – earned – and not given. That’s exactly why the Greek national team head coach praised him recently.

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Thanasis Antetokounmpo praised for injury recovery for Greece

Greek national team head coach Vassilis Spanoulis spoke after their 75-66 win over Italy in their opening fixture of the EuroBasket tournament.

He had high praise for Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who worked very hard to recover from his injury and earned his way back into the team.

“At the beginning of the summer, he wasn’t really in our plans, because he hadn’t played for more than a year. But he showed us how ready he is to play at such a high level, and that he’s a very reliable player.

“Thanasis had a serious injury about 15 months ago, but he’s an incredible competitor. He’s someone who always gives everything for the team.

“We had a conversation before I called him to the national team, and I told him: It’s up to you. You might play just a few minutes, you might stay with us for five days, or you might make it all the way with the team.

“I don’t hand out opportunities just like that. He earned his spot. He came, he played, he gave us great energy and great presence.

“He’s a good teammate, he’s vocal, and like everyone else on the team, he plays to win. That’s all that matters.

“He’s here in his role, and I thank him for that. He’s been fantastic for the team — he played, he contributed, and he’s here in his role.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo setting the tone for new season

While Thanasis Antetokounmpo did an admirable job in recovering and getting back to the team, the Greek national team is still reliant on Giannis Antetokounmpo.

After watching the game, Darvin Ham saw how Giannis ran the team’s offense, and wondered whether the Milwaukee Bucks should emulate the process.

Antetokounmpo had a brilliant game, scoring 31 points and grabbing seven rebounds to help win. Danilo Gallinari was in awe of how unstoppable Giannis was, despite Italy’s great defense.

If he can string together some more brilliant performances in this campaign, it will be a good tone-setter for his return to the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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