Giannis Antetokounmpo undergoes knee procedure and is questionable for the FIBA World Cup

Giannis' chances of playing in the FIBA World Cup are murky.

© Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo went through a knee procedure to clean up some loose cartilage in his left knee, leaving his playing status for Greece in the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup next month in the Philippines in question.

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

Dealt with knee issues

The 28-year-old dealt with knee issues this past season, which limited him to just 63 games in the regular season. The injury bug also hit Giannis at the most crucial time, as a back injury he suffered in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Miami Heat sidelined him for the next two games. The top-seeded Bucks eventually lost that series.

As the Bucks gear up for another run at the NBA title next season, the team’s general manager Jon Horst told The Athletic that they have yet to decide on Giannis’ upcoming stint with Greece’s national team in the FIBA World Cup.

“When it comes to our players’ health, we always work collaboratively with the player, his representative, and our performance staff to make the best decision possible,” said Horst. “In the case of national team play, we work with our partners in those federations also. No decision has been made on whether Giannis will be with the Greek national team this summer.”

Integral to Greece’s success

Plain and simple, Giannis plays a huge part in Greece’s success in international competitions, and his potential absence looms large. In his last stint for Greece at the 2022 Eurobasket, Giannis averaged 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, which included a 41-point outburst against Ukraine.

Greece is in Group C—the same group as that Team USA and New Zealand. This means Greece can ill afford to be without its superstar. The Greeks have a proud basketball tradition, so their hopes for success this summer rest upon the shoulders of Giannis Antetokounmpo.