Giannis Antetokounmpo has lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, been crowned NBA Finals MVP, and twice earned the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Yet, as he stood on the hardwood in Riga after Greece’s 92–89 victory over Finland in the EuroBasket bronze medal game, the emotion in his voice made one thing clear: this medal meant more.
The win marked Greece’s first EuroBasket podium finish in 16 years. Giannis was at the heart of it, delivering 30 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks in a performance that blended dominance with desperation. The stakes weren’t about contracts or endorsements, they were about pride, identity, and representing a nation of 12 million.
Per Sport24:
I am happy, I am healthy, my family is well. We came third in Europe. I’m doing fine. Of course I rejoiced a lot because many people rejoiced, and when I go out in the street, or when my family goes out, I feel the love.
You saw how I reacted at the end. You would say I did a three-peat with the Chicago Bulls. For many, my reaction was excessive. Not for people here from Greece, but for people in America. They couldn’t understand.
I wanted to achieve something with the National Team and it is something I was missing. What bothers me is that you cannot tell someone what is important for them and what isn’t. For me winning MVP may be important, but winning something with the National Team is more important. Sorry, but it is.
I told Papanikolaou, ‘Guys, I want the medal. I want it.’ I knew that for 16 years we had not gotten a medal. I entered training camp very focused and I gave the example to everyone that ‘guys, I’m not here to waste my summer, or to play games. We are here to become better, to be concentrated and to concentrate on ourselves.
I’m glad that I made the success with my brothers, which is even more special. And I’m very happy for my mother, who was able to see that.”
For Giannis, the bronze medal was more than hardware. It was a culmination of years of near-misses with the Greek national team, a reward for enduring injuries, criticism, and the grind of balancing NBA commitments with international duty.
The game itself was a thriller. Greece led by as many as 17 points, but Finland, powered by Lauri Markkanen’s 19 points, stormed back late. With five seconds left, Elias Valtonen had a chance to tie the game at the free-throw line. He missed the third shot, and Giannis secured the rebound before sealing the win with two clutch free throws.
In the locker room, the celebration was unrestrained, jerseys soaked, voices hoarse, and a sense of history restored. For Greek basketball, the medal was a reminder of the glory days of 1987 and 2005, and for Giannis, it was proof that his journey from the streets of Sepolia to the pinnacle of the sport still had chapters left to write.
