‘Giannis Antietekounmo’s will is great, we will monitor his recovery’

The men’s national team trained for the first time ahead of Mundo Basket 2023, where Dimitris Itoudis had the necessary acquaintance with the selectors. Before training began, the Federal Coach spoke to the EEC YouTube channel about the ‘blue and white’ design and how the preliminary roster was drawn up, with an emphasis on both the absent and the present.

In fact, he explained the reasons why Kostas Sloukas, Nick Kalatis, Tyler Dorsey and Leonidas Kasilakis did not participate, while also clarifying the situation with Giannis, Thanassis and Kostas Antetokounmpo.

In detail what he said:

For the fires burning all over Greece:For the time being, our thoughts are with our fellow human beings, who have lost their homes and properties due to fires in different parts of the country. It is something painful for the future of the country, and for the health and property of those affected. Ethniki and I personally desire to be of assistance to any assistance to our fellow human beings. I hope the fires will be contained soon. A big thumbs up to the firefighters and volunteers who help the organized government work to put out the fires.“.

To participate in MundoBasket 2023: “It is a great honor for Greece to participate in the World Cup finals again. We celebrated qualifying in Belgium, and now we start our pursuit with great enthusiasm, fully aware that we create expectations. We also want to give our best, but we are only on the first day, with some absences, but also a shaky presence and above all with a willingness to work.“.

What about absentees?

On the issues he has to manage: “What matters is that it starts working and that we are as consistent as possible with those present. There are athletes who contacted me and the federation and expressed their desire not to participate in this effort.

Kostas Sloukas has been in the national teams for almost 20 years. He wanted his body to be as good as possible for the effort in the team he’s going to be on and that’s totally respectable. He informed us in time, and we tried to persuade him, but what he decided was totally respectable. On the same wavelength was the absence of Nick Calathes, with a problem with his shoulder near the end of Fener’s season. He also wanted to be in the best possible shape for the new season. Nick has been in the national team for several summers.

Tyler Dorsey has a family problem, he desires to be by his partner’s side during her pregnancy, while at the same time he has some issues in the middle that he wants to solve in order to be present for the next step of his career at the collegiate level. Leonidas Kasilakis has had surgery, he was also present at many national team invitations, but he won’t be able to help“.

Antetokounmpo case

For Yiannis, Kostas, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Ioannis Papapetrou: “We have the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, at least from the first call, because he had an operation that takes time. We’ll obviously be watching his recovery with the Bucks, where he belongs, to see how he does. Undoubtedly his will to help the national team, he has proven it in practice. Kostas Antetokounmpo also had an operation and we believe that in 10 days we will have a clearer picture. Thanasis Antetokounmpo is in free agency, he will be with us from tomorrow and we will see what his path will be. Ioannis Papapetrou is here, he’s doing his medication, he’s got a problem with his shoulder, but I think by the end of the week we’ll go into the squad as usual.“.

For the value of the attendees:The most important are those present. Obviously the names of players who are absent or in trouble are very loud, but we are there for us and ready to work and represent the colors of Greece with the greatest pride. Will our captain, Kostas Papanicolaou, allow me to use what he said in his speech to the rest of the players before the first training session: We play with what is written on the front of our shirt (i.e. Greece), to build on what is written on the back (i.e. his name). Kostas has been in the national teams for many years and knows what that means“.

On the presence of Lefteris Mantzoukas and Vangelis Zogres:My colleagues and I are concerned that we are working with the national team. It’s such an honor, you shudder! Congratulations to Zougris and Mantzoukas who brought a medal to Greece, they are here because we are watching their progress and they can help us. They are not being served, they deserve this call and we want them to give their best so that we have the best possible preparation“.

For the group profile it wants to create: “A colleague with more experience in national teams told me that what you build in one summer you may not find next summer, because cohesion and harmony are disrupted by the absences that can occur.

It’s not math, but it’s a common goal for us to be combative, to fight for every ball… The thing that the national team won last year, even though it didn’t get a medal, is that it brought the Greek back onto the field or on their screens to watch the national team.

A large percentage of Greeks have seen our efforts at EuroBasket or in the qualifiers and we should not miss that. You cannot fool the world and we are not here to do such a thing. Everyone is here for the best, we have to be loud players, and make sacrifices. The physiognomy of this group contains these elements that make us optimistic that we will acquire these virtues. We hope to be a team that no one will score against easily.

The first goal is to become a team, to marry generations and athletes who may never have played against each other. We will try to do it as soon as possible, if we are healthy“.