Emotional Antetokounmpo Pulls Out of 2023 FIBA World Cup

• Giannis Antetokounmpo will not play at the 2023 FIBA World Cup
• The Milwaukee Bucks superstar said he will not play for Greece because he is not yet fully healthy
• Antetokounmpo said he will instead focus on helping Greece qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has announced he will not play for Greece at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which tips off on August 25 in the Philippines.

The two-time MVP said he still wants to help his country qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He is coming off a frustrating postseason in the NBA.

The 2021 NBA champion took to Instagram to announce his decision to skip the FIBA World Cup, saying he is not at a level he feels comfortable medically to player for his country. He added that the decision was reached with the help of the medical staff.

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"...after months of work and multiple meetings with medical staff it is clear that i am not ready to compete in the level that I need to be to participate in the World Cup. This was not a choice but my only option in ensuring I get back to the level of basketball I have worked so hard to achieve so far in my career. I am extremely disappointed in this outcome but this was a decision made with the medical staff."

He, however, said he is focused on the 2024 Olympics.

"My personal, and our ultimate team goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympics games and it will be an honor to represent my National Team next year."

Antetokounmpo injury problems

The 28-year-old star played for Greece during the 2019 World Cup and at EuroBasket last summer.

The Bucks forward missed a few games in the 2022/23 regular season and the playoffs because of injury. In the regular season, he missed 19 games, 11 of those because of left knee soreness. He returned to help the Bucks record with the best record in the NBA at 58-24.

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Nevertheless, he went down again after suffering a back injury in Game 1 of the opening round in the playoffs. By the time he returned, the Bucks were getting stunned by Miami.

Antetokounmpo's passionate speech

Sports Brief earlier reported on Antetokounmpo giving a passionate speech about failure after the Bucks' embarrassing playoff exit in April.

The Bucks were eliminated from the 2023 NBA playoffs after losing Game 5 to the 8th-seed Miami Heat. They lost 128-126 in overtime.

"It's not a failure; it's steps to success. There's always steps to it. Michael Jordan played 15 years, won six championships. The other nine years was a failure? That's what you're telling me?"