Giannis Antetokounmpo added another tremendous achievement to his legendary career by serving as the hero of his nation's basketball program. He powered Greece to an unblemished campaign in the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers, earning them their ticket as one of the final four teams qualified for this year's Paris Summer Games.
It couldn't be more gratifying for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar as this lands him on the Olympic stage for the first time. Regardless of whether he'll be chosen as the country's flag bearer, Antetokounmpo vowed to give everything and savor the atmosphere of the world's biggest sporting event.
"I think that's an honor. You know [it's] the Olympic Games. The best athletes in the world, people that are 39 to 40 years old, they're still coming back to play in the Olympics, so you understand what this means and being able to be my first one," Giannis said after leading Greece over Croatia in their OQT Finals.
"Now, if I'm the flag bearer, great. If I'm not, it's okay. I'm just happy that I have a good coaching staff and a good team. I am in the Olympics, I just want to go and compete. Be more healthy, compete and try to make something happen. But again, as coach said, I would enjoy every moment," Antetokounmpo added.
Other well-deserved flag bearers for Greece besides Giannis
While 'The Greek Freak' rightfully earned his privilege of being the Greeks' choice to carry their flag as they enter the Olympic scenes in Paris, a handful of other well-deserving athletes may also take over the honor.
Miltos Tentoglou stands as a strong candidate who is considerably the favorite to serve as the flag bearer for Greece in the 2024 Olympics. Widely regarded as one of the greatest long jumpers of all time and the current world No. 1, the 26-year-old is a defining figure in athletics for clinching first-place finishes in all major World and European championships, winning 11 gold medals. He previously won the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Other than Tentoglou, Stefanos Tsitsipas is another name to monitor for the Greeks. A tennis sensation and former ATP World No. 3, he is slated to compete in all three events of the sport (singles, doubles, mixed doubles) at the Paris Olympics.
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Greek legend
Whether or not Giannis will be given the priceless opportunity to carry the flag of Greece, he is undoubtedly a deserving figure to fulfill the task. The Greek Federation won't make a mistake in selecting the kid from Athens as he gave glory and fame to the nation as one of the NBA's finest, bringing them back to the Olympic basketball for the first time since 2008.
Beyond the possibility of leading the march of his fellow Greek athletes while carrying their country's flag, we can only be thrilled that the Antetokounmpo will be one of the major reasons for us to highly anticipate the Summer Games as he is about to compete with the rest of the best in the entire globe.
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