Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo impressed in his 2025 EuroBasket debut on Wednesday, helping lead Greece to a big win over Kristaps Porzingis and Latvia.
Prior to today’s game, the Ethniki had posted a 2-2 record through their pre-EuroBasket exhibitions, defeating Belgium and Montenegro, while falling to Serbia and Israel.
With just three exhibition games left to go before the group phase begins on Aug. 28, The Greek Freak made his 2025 Hellenic debut on Wednesday, erupting for eight points, three rebounds, and two blocks in just five minutes of action as Greece jumped out to an early double-digit lead.
Giannis’ early dominance proved to be a foreshadowing for how the rest of the game would play out as the 2021 NBA Finals MVP finished the first half with 20 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
Antetokounmpo wound up finishing the game with a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double despite playing just 21 minutes due to Greece’s commanding lead.
With the 104-86 win, Greece is now sitting on a 3-2 record heading into their final two exhibition games.
You can see Giannis Antetokounmpo’s full-game highlights below:
Looking at Giannis Antetokounmpo & Greece’s Upcoming EuroBasket Schedule
Leading up to EuroBasket 2025, where Antetokounmpo and Hellenic star Kostas Sloukas will look to lead the team to its first gold medal in 20 years, Greece has just two more exhibition games left to play before the tournament begins.
The team will next face off with Italy on Aug. 22, before then wrapping up their exhibition slate with an Aug. 24 game against France.
Once EuroBasket 2025 begins, Greece will play five round robin games against the other members of Group C.
- Aug. 28 – Greece vs. Italy
- Aug. 30 – Cyprus vs. Greece
- Aug. 31 – Georgia vs. Greece
- Sept. 2 – Greece vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Sept. 4 – Spain vs. Greece
Looking at Greece’s Roster Ahead of EuroBasket 2025
During the Ethniki’s 2024 Paris Olympic run, the team felt the absence of standout guard Kostas Sloukas. While Sloukas will be back in action this summer, first-year coach Vassilis Spanoulis will be without several other notable players.
Most notably, the team will be without Thomas Walkup, Giorgios Papagiannis, and Nikos Rogkavopoulos during this summer’s tournament.
Walkup, who won the EuroLeague’s 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award, handled playmaking duties in Sloukas’ absence last summer. After suffering a back injury in February, the 2023 EuroLeague steals leader has yet to return to action.
Additionally, Giorgios Papagiannis, who provided a reliable interior presence for the Ethniki at the Paris Olympics, will be sidelined for EuroBasket 2025 due to undisclosed personal reasons.
Last but certainly not least, in the case of sharpshooter Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Spanoulis has indicated that the young guard was cleared to play after a May injury, but chose not to represent Greece in this year’s tournament.
Barring any changes from Spanoulis, Greece’s current roster is as follows
Note: GBL indicates Greek Basketball League
| Kostas Papanikolaou | Olympiacos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Kostas Sloukas | Panathinaikos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Giannoulis Larentzakis | Olympiacos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) |
| Dinos Mitoglou | Panathinaikos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Panagiotis Kalaitzakis | Panathinaikos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Dimitris Katsivelis | AEK Athens (GBL) |
| Kostas Antetokounmpo | Olympiacos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Vassilis Toliopoulos | Panathinaikos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Tyler Dorsey | Olympiacos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Nikos Chougkaz | Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia) |
| Thanasis Antetokounmpo | Free Agent |
| Omiros Netzipoglou | Olympiacos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Alexandros Samodurov | Panathinaikos (GBL, EuroLeague) |
| Nasos Bazinas | Promitheas (GBL) |
| Vangelis Zougris | Peristeri (GBL) |
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Giannis Antetokounmpo Shines in 2025 EuroBasket Debut Against Porzingis & Latvia appeared first on Heavy Sports.