Giannis Antetokounmpo led Workforce Greece to a win of their EuroBasket opener towards Italy yesterday, scoring 31 factors in a 75-66 victory. In attendance for that victory have been Bucks‘ basic supervisor Jon Horst, head coach Doc Rivers, and assistant coaches Vin Baker and Darvin Ham, writes Michalis Gioulenoglou of EuroHoops.
After the sport, Rivers spoke concerning the expertise of watching his star play for the Greek nationwide crew.
“I really like watching the motion and the way they play,” he mentioned, as relayed by Giorgos Kyriakidis of BasketNews. “I all the time steal performs, I watch it, and I take a few of these performs again dwelling and I run them. Yeah, I really like all of the motion, all of the elbow motion.”
Rivers, who’s planning on staying to look at not less than yet another of Antetokounmpo’s video games, famous that the two-time MVP tends to function out of the publish extra at EuroBasket than within the NBA.
Ham elaborated on a number of the variations he’s seen.
“He’s making an attempt to contain his teammates and permit his teammates to assist him assist them,” mentioned Ham. “It’s extra team-oriented, extra units, and all of that right here is totally different. They don’t play as quick as we do within the NBA, however within the NBA, his utilization fee is off the charts. He always has the ball in his fingers, so somewhat bit totally different function for him over there.”
Whereas Ham was clear that Antetokounmpo is an unselfish participant whatever the state of affairs, he summed it up in a easy sentence: “With us, he needs to be Superman.”
Antetokounmpo’s Greek crew coach, Vassilis Spanoulis, additionally answered questions concerning the star participant and whether or not he’d be load-managed throughout video games which may not be as essential for the Hellas, based on Gioulenoglou.
“Giannis can play as a lot as I would like him to play, we’re within the official video games now and there’s no limitations anymore,” Spanoulis mentioned.
When requested concerning the expertise of teaching Antetokounmpo this yr versus prior years, Spanoulis noticed a transparent distinction in method regardless of the identical persona he’s used to.
“He’s extra vocal this yr. He’s very humble for his standing and the sort of participant he’s, and that extends off the courtroom,” he mentioned. “He desires to win, he desires to get this crew to a different degree. He listens, however he may also lead the crew in his personal means.”
Workforce Greece, which most not too long ago received the EuroBasket match in 2005, will subsequent face off towards Georgia on Sunday.
