2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup: How good is Greece? Who are their best players?

Although Greece are considered as one of the outside shots for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the team were dealt a blow ahead of the tournament with the news that star player Giannis Antetokounmpo would be absent. The Milwaukee Bucks star underwent a ‘cleanup’ procedure on his knee about two weeks ago and is now in the process of recovery.

Earlier this month, Giannis confirmed most Greece fans fears when he posted a message via Instagram confirming that he would miss the competition.

“Everyone knows my passion and love for my National Team has and never will change. Since the conclusion of my NBA season I have been pushing my body to the limits to be the player I need to be to help our team achieve the goals we set. But after months of work and multiple meetings with medical staff it is clear that i am not ready to compete in the level that I need to be to participate in the World Cup. This was not a choice but my only option in ensuring I get back to the level of basketball I have worked so hard to achieve so far in my career. I am extremely disappointed in this outcome but this was a decision made with the medical staff. I’m going to continue to push myself to be ready for the next time my name is called. My personal, and our ultimate team goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympics games and it will be an honor to represent my National Team next year.”

One Antetokounmpo playing for Greece

Older brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo is in the Greek side and the Bucks player was involved in the opening game as the European side eased by Jordan with the small forward playing for 18 minutes of the opener.

The bulk of the Greece team plays in the domestic league with players hailing from the ‘big three’ of Olympiakos, AEK and Panathinaikos.

The team is captained by veteran Konstantinos “Kostas” Papanikolaou with the 33-year-old having played with FC Barcelona along with NBA teams Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

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In the opener against Jordan, shooting guard Giannoulis Larentzakis was the main scoring outlet for Dimitrios Itoudis’ team netting 19 points and the Olympiakos player was on court for just over 22 minutes and much of Greece’s hopes on going far in the tournament will depend on his shooting.

Thomas Walkup is another player expected to shine for Greece at FIBA 2023. The Pasadena (California) born 1.93m (6′4″) point guard made a big splash with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in 2017-18 in Germany and has since played for Zalgiris and more recently, Olympiakos in Greece.

Greece at 2023 World Cup: prediction

With the top two teams in each group progressing to the second stage, we anticipate the US to top comfortably Group C with the Greece-New Zealand game pivotal in deciding who also advances.

We predict Greece to progress bit stall at this stage with no talisman Giannis on the team.