Giannis - 2X MVP - FMVP - DPOY - Store Grand Opening + Autographs 10/7

[Fotis St]

What ? Win ONE for Greece Giannis ... Basketball Gods will jinx you if you skip your obligation to put the Greek Flag at the Top or at least a medal.


Just shoot 1000 FTs a day with Oppenheimer counting and shooting within 5 seconds.

There is actually a nice Fiba 5 sec rule that surprisingly "helped" Giannis shoot faster and he indeed shot the FTs better.

So cut the bs and play for Greece

[tsamo]

That would be unfortunate.
If he can't compete now, in the main tournament, with no nba playoffs to get in his way and him relatively healthy, what were all the other times playing in preliminaries for?

Or are we supposed to assume that he would stop playing for the Greek national team in future endeavors?
For me it would be best, if he is healthy of course, to play and try to go as far as possible, maybe for a medal, just to get this off his back as he did with the NBA title.

[MickeyDavis]

That's good news and bad news. Happy if he doesn't play (sorry Greece) but what is this leg injury he has 2+ months after the season ended? Or is it just an excuse to sit out?

[Ron Swanson]

Feel sorry for Greek fans but at some point you guys have to understand that this is far better for his long-term legacy and career. If Giannis finally realizes he needs to reduce the wear and tear on his body and just take it easy during the offseason, then this is great news.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

That's good news and bad news. Happy if he doesn't play (sorry Greece) but what is this leg injury he has 2+ months after the season ended? Or is it just an excuse to sit out?

My guess its more of the same wear/tear on his knees that he always had (unless there was something new in there?). I don't think its bad news as we already new he needs rest but good he is finally doing a cost benefit and putting a finger on the scale towards his NBA career.

(That and I bet he thinks Greece f-ing sucks and doesn't want to get destroyed by Bobby and the rest of the USA team ...kidding ...sort of)

[TroyD92]

I'm sure Thanasis can play

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I'm sure Thanasis can play

Would be kind of funny if TA or KA shows up and they are like...ummm...it was more of a Giannis +1 type invitation....

[CharityStripe34]

Would like to see one more tournament with an Itoudis-coached Giannis-squad, despite its glaring non-shooting flaw. They strangely had a "90's Knicks" grittiness vibe to them. I get it from the Bucks' side, for sure, protect the superstar (investment). Strange since he's been in Greece for a few weeks now and has been seen training at OAKA stadium, and this will be the longest off-season for him in 5 years. C'est la vie.

[Beorn]

So the only real chance for a medal in the International level for Giannis is the Olympics, next summer, IF Greece qualifies.
Sloukas (who is apparently sitting out this year) and Calathes will be 35-36yo in 2024, and there are no decent ballhandlers after that point.

[yannisk]

If Greece had a good squad I think Giannis should have played. It would be nice to add a medal to his resume. Fiba Basketball does not allow Giannis's football moves, he is forced to play more conventional basketball which should help his development.

But Greek squad is so limited that is probably just an early exit Giannis or not.

[emunney]

So the only real chance for a medal in the International level for Giannis is the Olympics, next summer, IF Greece qualifies.
Sloukas (who is apparently sitting out this year) and Calathes will be 35-36yo in 2024, and there are no decent ballhandlers after that point.

Seems weird that talent dried up post-Giannis. Would have expected an explosion in youth participation. Maybe still a few years out?

[FlagsFlyForever]

That's a shame. Hopefully he'll be fully healthy/motivated and able to participate in the Olympics next year.

[Beorn]

So the only real chance for a medal in the International level for Giannis is the Olympics, next summer, IF Greece qualifies.
Sloukas (who is apparently sitting out this year) and Calathes will be 35-36yo in 2024, and there are no decent ballhandlers after that point.

Seems weird that talent dried up post-Giannis. Would have expected an explosion in youth participation. Maybe still a few years out?

Giannis' effect is gonna come in the late 2020s/early 2030s probably, the kiddos who grew up with Giannis' posters are still in middle and high school. None is gonna give them his genes though

It's a much deeper issue.... the average greek player is not athletic, below average from distance and averse to fast-paced game, but can play PnR and has been taught 20 different defensive coverages by the age of 17.

IMO the success of the Greek NT in the 00s has played factor into this, we used to win games in the 60-70pt range despite all the available talent because the NT coach played a slow, deliberate game (the semis win vs the US was an exception). We had the best G rotation in FIBA though, and good role players on the wing and up front. And almost everyone could shoot.

The greek school of coaching adopted the "thinking basketball" approach, where we try to control the tempo, give the hands to conservative game managers who don't do mistakes and not to quick/scoring guards.
What I cannot fathom is the lack of 3pt shooting at this point. How difficult is it to teach some young fellas how to shoot at an early age

[CharityStripe34]

If Greece had a good squad I think Giannis should have played. It would be nice to add a medal to his resume. Fiba Basketball does not allow Giannis's football moves, he is forced to play more conventional basketball which should help his development.

But Greek squad is so limited that is probably just an early exit Giannis or not.

He actually played really well last fall at Eurobasket and shot like 79% FT. FIBA refs basically went up to him first exhibition game and said "hurry up." And it helped.

Sent from my LM-K500 using RealGM mobile app

[yannisk]

The talent dried up completely. Some of the biggest disappointments are Giannis's brothers. All of them are athletically gifted, Thanasis is excused as he started basketball late. Kostas is almost as tall as Giannis and he is not even a Euroleague rotation player. Kostas is not as tall but he should be able to play in the Greek league at least.


Whenever someone says that Giannis is only successful because he is so athletic, they have to be pointed to the rest of the Antetokoubros

[ReasonablySober]

Read on Twitter

[emunney]

Hopefully this just involved a washcloth and some Dial.

[Milbucks96]

Is this the first surgery of his career? I knew something was coming for him but I expected the wrist because that looked bad ever since he banged it up.

[MickeyDavis]

I imagine the reason this was done now and not 2 months ago is so he has a valid reason to skip the WC

[Prez]

Seems like good news, seems like a cleanup procedure has been needed for a while and glad he’s skipping the WC and taking time to rest.