Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak, turned up the heat in Athens, leading Greece to a sensational 109-82 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Olympic qualifying tournament. In just 18 minutes of play, the NBA superstar racked up an astonishing 32 points on a flawless 11-for-11 shooting spree, adding two rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block that sent social media into a frenzy.
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Teammate Thomas Walkup chipped in with 17 points, helping Greece build an insurmountable 27-point lead. Giannis’ brother, Kostas, also got in on the action, contributing four points, a rebound, and a steal in 11 minutes.
Coach Vassilis Spanoulis couldn’t hide his pride: “Giannis loves to be here. He loves to represent his country. He’s very humble. He’s part of the team. For a superstar, you don’t find this easy. He’s about winning.”
This win sets Greece up nicely to advance to the semifinals with a victory over Egypt on Thursday. For Giannis, an Olympic appearance is one of the few accolades missing from his glittering career. He seemed unphased by the calf strain that kept him out of the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff run, dominating the game with his usual flair.
The Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece is just one of four global showdowns, with similar battles raging in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. These tournaments will decide the final four spots in the men’s basketball field for the Paris Olympics.
Group play wraps up on Thursday, with semifinals on Saturday and title games on Sunday. If Greece ranks first or second in Group B, they’ll face a single-elimination game against Croatia, Slovenia, or New Zealand. Winning the final secures a coveted Olympic berth.
Giannis is no stranger to breaking records. In January, he joined the elite club of players averaging 32-plus points, 13-plus rebounds, and 7-plus assists on 55 percent shooting in a 10-game span, alongside legends Nikola Jokic and Wilt Chamberlain. Last season, he averaged a career-high 31.6 points per game on 61 percent shooting and shattered the Milwaukee Bucks’ franchise record with a jaw-dropping 64 points against the Indiana Pacers.
With this latest performance, Giannis continues to etch his name into the annals of basketball history, now equalling Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for the Bucks with six 45-plus point games in a single season. And with his eyes set on the Olympics, the Greek Freak shows no signs of slowing down.
