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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Antetokounmpo to play for Greece at World Cup

Antetokounmpo to play for Greece at World Cup

Published Jun 28, 2019 12:00 am
By the Associated Press ATHENS, Greece -- Giannis Antetokounmpo will play for Greece at this year's basketball World Cup in China, saying he can play any position. Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks (Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP) Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks (Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP) The Milwaukee Bucks player and NBA MVP on Friday said he hasn't "talked to the coach about which position I'll be playing ... the important thing is to play."
 "Whether I play the 1 or the 5 , I don't care," Antetokounmpo said. "I'm a basketball player. I want to help the team any way I can."
The 32-team tournament starts in China on Aug. 31 and continues until Sept. 15. Antetokounmpo did not play for Greece at the 2017 Eurobasket. His absence had led the Greek basketball federation to publicly accuse the Bucks of staging a knee injury. Antetokounmpo is in Athens to attend a 3x3 tournament that he sponsors. The tournament will be played on three different Athens courts, with the finals held Saturday near his Athens home, where he first played basketball. Earlier Friday, Antetokounmpo mused about his journey from the Greek-born child of Nigerian immigrants to him 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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