Video of Giannis Antetokounmpo Slapping EuroBasket Teammate Going Viral

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Aug 17, 2025 11:01 AM ET

It feels like this sentiment is expressed every summer, but the Milwaukee Bucks are facing their most pivotal offseason in franchise history.

After three consecutive first-round exits in the playoffs, largely due to injuries sustained by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the two-time MVP is genuinely considering a change of scenery for the first time in his career.

While he mulls over his future with the Bucks in the NBA, he is set to participate in the FIBA EuroBasket tournament for Greece. Milwaukee finally allowed Antetokounmpo to join the team this weekend and he is already going viral in one of his first public appearances with the team.

Why did Giannis Antetokounmpo slap Larentzakis like that

giannispan_/TikTok pic.twitter.com/kuwtbvEMvd
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) August 16, 2025

In the video, you can see the Bucks star inexplicably slap his teammate in the back of the head while in a huddle. There hasn’t been any confirmed motive for the slap, so any theories or ideas at this point are pure conjecture.

However, the former champion is known to be a fierce competitor, so an argument could be made that his teammate was goofing off or unfocused, which may have prompted Antetokounmpo to slap him.

The Greek Freak is usually calm, collected, and mild mannered, so this incident is a hilarious change of pace from his normal personality.

These national teams are comprised of players who have been competing with each other for years, so it’s safe to assume that there was no ill intent behind the slap and that the two made up afterwards.

But for Antetokounmpo, it shines an even brighter light on him as the basketball world awaits his decision on whether to stay or leave Milwaukee.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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