Giannis Antetokounmpo steered Greece to the Olympics on Sunday, July 7, as he overcame a slow start to score 23 points in an 80-69 qualifying tournament victory over Croatia in Piraeus.
The game was one of four finals on Sunday to determine the last qualifiers for the Paris men’s basketball tournament.
In Riga, Brazil beat hosts Lithuania 94-69. In Valencia, Spain edged the Bahamas 86-78.
In the Olympic tournament in Lille, Greece and Spain will play in Group A with Australia and Canada. Brazil will line up in Group B with France, Germany and Japan.
The final place is between Lithuania and Puerto Rico, who meet in San Juan late Sunday. The winners will go into Group C with the United States, South Sudan and Serbia.
Before the qualifying tournament started, Antetokounmpo had not played competitively since injuring a calf on April 9 playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
He returned for the tournament opener in Piraeus on July 2 and, even though he was rested for Greece’s second game, ended up collecting the tournament most valuable player award.
On Sunday, Croatia, with 2.16-metre (7-foot-1) Los Angeles Clippers centre Ivica Zubac at the heart of their defence, packed the paint to deny Antetokounmpo.
Croatia led by as much as four points in the first quarter. As Antetokounmpo began to penetrate and Greece went 12-of-32 on three-point attempts, the hosts took control. Antetokounmpo finished as the top scorer and also grabbed eight rebounds to ensure his first Olympic appearance.
“It’s incredible. I don’t think the scenario could have been better. Being in your house, with people that support you. It’s an incredible feeling,” Antetokounmpo. “Since I was a kid I always wanted to play the Olympic Games.”
“I don’t want to get ahead and be talking about medals,” he said at the press conference. “The last time we went to the Olympic Games was 2008. One step at a time.”
Zubac had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Croatia.
In Riga, Brazil hit eight out of eight three-point attempts as they took a 34-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and then cruised to victory.
Forwards Leo Meindl and Bruno Caboclo each hit 21 points.
Caboclo, who plays for Red Star in Serbia, was voted tournament MVP.
“I’m so excited, I’m so happy. These are the best plans I could imagine,” he said looking ahead to the Games.
In Valencia, Spain took the lead for the first time against Bahamas midway through the second quarter and nursed their advantage the rest of the way.
Guard Lorenzo Brown top scored for Spain with 19. He was matched by NBA guard Buddy Hield for Bahamas.
Rudy Fernandez scored nine points for Spain to book a record sixth trip to the Olympics at the age of 39. He is tied with six other men and four women on five Olympic basketball tournaments.
