Kostas Antetokounmpo's Olympic Aspirations Await Medical Clearance

Kostas Antetokounmpo's chance to participate in the upcoming Olympics hinges on a final medical evaluation scheduled for this Monday, conducted by doctors from both the Greek national team and Panathinaikos.

Just hours before the Greek national team heads to Serbia for their final preparations ahead of the Olympic Games, two additional players were released from the roster following the team's last practice in Persiteri. Giannis Kouzeloglou and Giorgos Tanoulis, who had been with the team since day one, will not be part of the group travelling to Belgrade and subsequently to Lille for Olympic pool play. Consequently, Greece is now left with 14 players as coach Vasilis Spanoulis prepares to make his final decision on which two players will be cut from the squad.

In contrast to Nick Calathes, who has completed the first phase of his treatment for a knee issue and is set to rejoin the team in Belgrade on Monday, Kostas Antetokounmpo's situation is more complex. The big man has been sidelined since July 5, when Greece hosted the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus. Despite earlier reports suggesting he might miss the Olympics, Antetokounmpo has been diligently working to recover from his left patellar tendon injury in hopes of securing a spot on the 12-man roster.

On Monday (July 22), the NBA and EuroLeague champion will be evaluated by doctors from Panathinaikos and the Greek national team to determine his fitness for the highly anticipated event.

"Tomorrow, the doctors of Panathinaikos and the national team have a meeting," Spanoulis told reporters. "Kostas will undergo a medical evaluation. We need 100% clearance from both sides because that's the right approach. First from Panathinaikos, and then from the national team doctor," the 42-year-old coach explained.

"He's been working out already. Kostas has an immense desire to be at the Olympics. However, no matter how eager the player is—and we truly appreciate and respect that, as it reflects the mentality of our entire team—we must wait for medical confirmation that he is fully ready to play for the national team."