Giannis Antetokounmpo will play for Greece’s national basketball team at this year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.
The Milwaukee Bucks forward and NBA MVP said he hasn’t talked to the coach about which position he will play. “The important thing is to play,” Antetokounmpo said.
“Whether I play the 1 (point guard) or the 5 (center), I don’t care,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m a basketball player. I want to help the team any way I can.”
The FIBA Cup takes place from August 31 to September 15 and Greece is one of 32 nations that has already qualified.
Antetokounmpo was in Greece to launch his new line of Nike shoes, which will go on sale in August.
During the shoe presentation, he joked about his journey from the Greek-born child of Nigerian immigrants to him and his brothers being the only black kids among 300 students in school while growing up in Athens, to becoming the first European basketball player to win NBA MVP.
He credited his hard work and great support system in his family, girlfriend and agent, as well as his self-belief.
“Greek Freak,” he said, is a nickname “that fits me.”
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