Giannis Antetokounmpo wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s one of the most dominant players in the world, putting on a show in his 2025 EuroBasket debut as Greece rolled past Kristaps Porzingis and Latvia.
Coming into Wednesday’s matchup, Latvia were sitting at 2-2 in their warmup games.
They had beaten Belgium and Montenegro, but dropped contests to Serbia and Israel. With Antetokounmpo finally suiting up, the energy shifted immediately.
The two-time NBA MVP erupted for eight points, three rebounds, and two blocks in just his first five minutes on the floor, helping Greece build an early double-digit advantage. His quick start set the tone for the night and foreshadowed a dominant performance.
GIANNIS IS BACK 😤#EUROBASKET X @hellenicbf 🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/JiERepZNi3
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 20, 2025
By halftime, the 2021 NBA Finals MVP had piled up 20 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, overwhelming Latvia with his trademark mix of power and finesse.
He eventually finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds in only 21 minutes as Greece cruised to a 104-86 victory.
The win pushed Greece’s exhibition record to 3-2 with just two tune-up games remaining before the group stage tips off on August 28. First-year coach Vassilis Spanoulis will lead Antetokounmpo and veteran guard Kostas Sloukas into matchups with Italy and France before official EuroBasket play begins.
From there, Greece faces a tough Group C schedule with games against Italy, Cyprus, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and powerhouse Spain.
Spanoulis’ squad won’t be at full strength, however. Defensive standout Thomas Walkup is out with a back injury, Giorgios Papagiannis is sidelined due to personal reasons, and sharpshooter Nikos Rogkavopoulos has opted not to participate despite being cleared to play.
Even with those absences, Antetokounmpo’s return makes Greece a serious medal threat. If his opening performance against Latvia is any indication, the Greek Freak is ready to chase the country’s first EuroBasket gold in 20 years.
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