By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

Giannis Antetokounmpo was present in the recent NBA All-Star Game and talked to the US and international media about fixing the All-Star Game and the EuroLeague.

However, he had even more interesting things to say in his native Greek language speaking to the Greek NBA right holders, COSMOTE TV, and the duo of Vassilis Skountis and Rigas Dardalis.

In a long interview that covered pretty much everything, Giannis joked about the idea of being traded to Detroit, like it was suggested to him by the Greek reporters as an example compared to the Doncic trade.

“At least Luka went from Dallas to LA, why you are sending me to Detroit”, Giannis said with a smile after a comical reaction that included a long “noooooo” and on a more serious note he added: “NBA is business if I got traded I would inform my family and would do my job”.

Asked if he would text his GM asking for a trade, Giannis once more talked about staying with the Bucks: “I don’t think that I would ever text (and ask for a trade), I am not this kind of guy, they would have to kick me out”.

The Greek national team and NBA Europe

Giannis also confirmed what his coach Vassilis Spanoulis said earlier in the day about his participation in the upcoming Eurobasket 2025.

“If I am healthy I will be there”, Giannis said and when asked if this time he would win a medal with Greece, he elaborated on his connection with the team, his ambitions and his coach Vasilis Spanoulis: “I thought we could have won a medal two years ago in the Eurobasket but we got to play Germany twice which is a great team. We will do our best, coach Spanoulis will create a good team and we put in the effort.  Coach pushed me to get out of my comfort zone, he was always keeping me alert and he affected the way I approach the game. My goal is to improve every year, that’s how we beat Croatia with my mid-range shot”.

Giannis Antetokounmpo gave his two cents also about the NBA Europe project: “The EuroLeague teams have a contract with their competition, but it will be good for the NBA to expand and for other teams to get there, maybe build new arenas and get into the NBA lifestyle”. 

Flagbearer in the Olympics

Giannis also touched on the issue of him being the Greek national team flagbearer in the Paris Olympics and how he managed to see his mother while being on the boat: “What are the chances for a kid, born in Sepolia, to Nigerian parents who were illegal immigrants to be the first person to open the ceremony? 0.000001% maybe? I swear to you that I didn’t know my mother was there, somehow she managed to get down to the river bank and she made a sound that I can hear from everywhere and suddenly I saw her. I was like, hi mom!”