SHENZHEN, China (AP) The U.S. mens basketball team figured that it would eventually cross paths with Giannis Antetokounmpo at this World Cup.
And the Americans were right.
For the first time, a reigning NBA MVP will play against the U.S. on a major international stage. Antetokounmpo and Greece (2-1) will be the opponent when the U.S. (3-0) opens second-round play on Saturday night, in whats essentially a must-win game for the Greeks in their quest to reach next weeks quarterfinals.
Oh, hes going to come out to kill us. Theres no question, said U.S. center Brook Lopez, Antetokounmpos teammate with the Milwaukee Bucks. Hell try to tear our heads off. I wouldnt expect anything otherwise.
Greece has already survived one must-win game in this World Cup, beating New Zealand 103-97 on Thursday night to clinch the 16th and final available spot in the second round. Had they lost, the Greeks were going to the classification round and relegated to no better than a 17th-place finish in the 32 team tournament.
Instead, they get the U.S. in a game thats sure to command major attention.
For us, we go as far as Giannis goes, Greeces Nick Calathes said. Not just offensively because offensively he can score, he can pass. But defensively, hes a big impact for us. Well be ready to go. Were not afraid of anybody. Obviously, USA is the best team in the tournament right now so well be prepared and have the right mindset coming in.
All second-round teams play two games before the quarterfinal field is set. The U.S. will play Brazil in the second-round finale Monday, while Greece will play the Czech Republic.
There is no mystery about what this event means to Antetokounmpo.
To represent my country, its an unbelievable feeling, Antetokounmpo said. You really cannot explain it. But one thing Ill say is when you play for the national team, you dont only play for yourself. You represent every single Greek person.
He said in the weeks leading up to the tournament that he would trade the MVP award for the World Cup crown.
If only it were that easy. Greece will face a U.S. team that is coming off a 53-point romp against Japan to finish first-round play.
Our opinion has been all along that all these players from overseas that play in the NBA are obviously good players or they wouldnt be there, and Giannis is pretty special as far as good players are concerned, U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said. But when they play for their countries, we like to say that they become superheroes.
Greece will probably need Antetokounmpo to find his superhero cape if this upset is going to happen.
Hes averaged 15.7 points so far in three games in China, shooting 50 percent from the floor and only 17 percent from 3-point range. The Greeks have been careful with his minutes and his best game of the World Cup, by far, was Thursday when he logged 30 minutes and scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out six assists.
