Greece returned to the quarterfinals of the Olympics after a 16-year absence on the men's basketball stage, and it was thanks to their star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
After finishing fifth in the 2008 Games, Greece failed to qualify for the next three Olympics in 2012, 2016, and 2020. They finally got past their struggles with Antetokounmpo leading the way to help them punch their ticket to Paris.
And while it wasn't perfect, they did what needed to be done to advance to the quarterfinals after a 1-2 showing in the group stage.
They competed well in their group against Canada, Spain, and Australia, showing that they can still put themselves against the best in the world.
Despite a strong performance from Antetokounmpo in the quarterfinals against Germany, providing 22 points and eight rebounds on 9-of-14 shooting from the field, Greece ran out of gas offensively as they lost 76-63 to end their journey in Paris.
Antetokounmpo reflected on his country's run after the game, sharing a response that proves he was proud to play for his country after what they have accomplished.
"At the end of the day, I just have to appreciate this unique journey that I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to be on again. I got to be the flag bearer for Greece, and it was the greatest honor of my life," Antetokounmpo said.
"I know my dad watched from heaven and he was celebrating. It wasn't easy, getting here wasn't something that was guaranteed, so I made the most of it because you never know if you'll get another chance."
No matter what, Antetokounmpo showed that he can be dominant not only at the NBA level but at the international level as well. He finished the tournament averaging 25.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Despite his efforts to will Greece to victory, Germany had better balance and shooting from the perimeter. Wagner scored a team-high 18 points on 8-of-17 shooting overall, with co-star Dennis Schroeder providing 13 points and eight assists in 31 minutes off the bench.
Greece ends their time in Paris with a 1-3 record, while Germany improves to 4-0 and awaits their semifinal opponent between France and Canada on Aug. 8.
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