Nine seasons, two MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year, one Finals MVP and one championship into his NBA career, we've grown accustomed to seeing Giannis Antetokounmpo defy the ordinary every time he steps on a basketball court.
From his go-go gadget blocks, to covering the entire length of the court in two dribbles, to his bulldozing drives, demolishing anyone in his path, Antetokounmpo is an unstoppable force who is trying to put an entire country on his back at EuroBasket 2022.
The last time we saw Antetokounmpo on an international stage at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the superstar forward failed to get Greece past the Group Stage. Widely considered the best player in the world after coming off of his first MVP season, it was a shocking sight to see Antetokounmpo struggle in FIBA play the way he did. Would he be able to put that performance behind him and look more like the player we see on an NBA floor?
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It didn't take long to get an answer to that question, as Antetokounmpo went off for 40 points against Serbia in a FIBA World Cup Qualifier leading into EuroBasket 2022.
FIBA Giannis is now unstoppable? 🔥
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 26, 2022
The Greek Freak dropped 40 points in front of a fully-packed Serbian crowd! 🥶#FIBAWC x #WinForHellas
🖥 https://t.co/53iCmzq10t pic.twitter.com/VNzE5vbQ98
Even though it came in a loss, he became the first player in World Cup Qualifier history to reach the 40-point threshold, giving fans a taste of the energy he would bring to the European tournament.
His strength, power and force on the court left his opponents shell-shocked. After going off for a 31-point double-double in a EuroBasket friendly tune-up against Spain, veteran guard Quino Colom was stunned by the Greek Freak.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life," Colom said of Antetokounmpo.
"He's one of the most interesting players in European basketball, for sure. Greece will fight a lot," Colom continued.
When asked how someone can stop Giannis, Colom was honest with his answer. "I don't know. If someone knows, please tell me."
It's an answer that every country competing at EuroBasket is looking for, as Antetokoumpo is averaging a jaw-dropping 26.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks through Greece's first two games of the tournament, leading to a perfect 2-0 record to this point.
In Greece's opening match against Croatia, Antetokounmpo had a flashback to the 2019 NBA Finals with a game-saving block and transition finish (this time, all in one play) — something that only the 6-foot-11 wunderkind is capable of doing.
GIANNIS 🤯
— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 2, 2022
That's the tweet...#EuroBasket x #BringTheNoise pic.twitter.com/GEaYrJrpHM
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He finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and one steal, leading his team to a close four-point win.
In Greece's second contest against Italy, Antetokounmpo crushed any hopes of a spirited comeback with a viral poster dunk late in the fourth quarter, capping off a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double to get his team one step closer to advancing past the Group Stage.
GIANNIS POSTER FROM ALL ANGLES 😤#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/GEuNUWIm0O
— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 3, 2022
Antetokounmpo is looking to cement his Greek legacy at EuroBasket, attempting to land his country on the podium for the first time in over a decade and a half. Greece won Gold at EuroBasket in 2005 and Silver at the 2006 FIBA World Cup, but the country has been in a drought since then.
The Greek Freak is competing with a burning passion each and every night, making him must-see TV every time he takes the floor.
With the weight of his country on his shoulders, Antetokounmpo has the opportunity to cross off another item on his career checklist, adding to what is already an all-time great resume at the age of 27.
