During the first round of the NBA playoffs this past season, theMilwaukee Bucksgot quite a scare, with superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffering a back injury and having to miss time in the postseason as a result.
An argument can be made that the Bucks not having Antetokounmpo fully healthy in the first-round series with the Miami Heat may have led to the team being embarrassed in five games against a team that needed the Play-In Tournament to make the playoffs.
With Antetokounmpo s injury proving to be costly for the Bucks, the superstar doesn t want the same thing to happen next year and is addressing an area of concern, as he underwent a cleanup procedure on his knee, which has put his participation in the FIBA World Cup in doubt, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo underwent a cleanup procedure on his knee two weeks ago and is uncertain for Greece s FIBA World Cup play this summer, sources confirm.
Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 5, 2023
Without Antetokounmpo leading the charge, Greece will have little chance of competing in the FIBA World Cup, as he is the heart and soul of the squad in the same way he is for the Bucks.
Team USA, led by Brandon Ingram and Anthony Edwards, is currently the favorite to come out on top in the FIBA World Cup, even though their roster is incredibly young and inexperienced in these kinds of competitions.
It ll be interesting to see if Antetokounmpo ultimately ends up playing and whether that s enough for Greece to compete against the Americans this summer, with bragging rights on the line for the two-time NBA MVP as he tries to impose his will on the international stage.