Giannis had emotional reaction to Olympic qualification

Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece. IPA

Giannis Antetokounmpo had emotional reaction to Olympic qualification

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jul 7, 2024 4:37 PM ET

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece officially qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics on Sunday by beating Croatia in a qualifier. That means Antetokounmpo will be an Olympian for the first time, and the moment was overwhelming for him.

Cameras caught Antetokounmpo wiping away tears on the bench after Greece clinched their Olympic bid. The Milwaukee Bucks star was highly emotional over the achievement.

What it means for Giannis #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/rpacKTH6PA

— FIBA (@FIBA) July 7, 2024

This marks the Greek basketball team’s first Olympic appearance since 2008, long before Giannis was playing for them.

Unsurprisingly, Antetokounmpo was a huge part of the successful Greek effort. He contributed a team-high 23 points and eight rebounds in an 80-69 win over Croatia to clinch qualification. The team also includes his brother Kostas, as well as former collegiate standouts Nick Calathes and Thomas Walkup.

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

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