FILE – Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (C) reacts to some extent through the Basketball World Cup Group Ok second spherical sport between Czech Republic and Greece in Shenzhen on September 9, 2019. (Picture by Nicolas ASFOURI / AFP)
The Fiba (Worldwide Basketball Federation) World Cup that the nation shall be cohosting may take one other hit by way of star energy.
After the USA bared a pool marked by the absence of its top-shelf stars, one other licensed NBA crowd-drawer is at risk of lacking the worldwide showcase after Milwaukee Bucks ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo had surgical procedure on his left knee, the crew confirmed on Wednesday.
The surgical procedure left the basketball star’s participation for Greece in August’s World Cup unsure.
“He had a routine surgical procedure on his left knee and it went nice,” Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin stated on Wednesday.
“All the pieces went as deliberate and we anticipate him again able to go in coaching camp,” he added.
The Bucks are anticipated to start their camp in early- to mid-September with the World Cup to begin on Aug. 25 and working till Sept. 10.
Earlier, French teen star and San Antonio Spurs general high choose Victor Wembanyama additionally introduced that he is not going to be a part of France within the event.
Even Gilas Pilipinas wasn’t spared by the harm bug.
Scottie Thompson, the Barangay Ginebra guard who’s among the many extra common names within the nationwide pool, is nursing a metacarpal fracture on his proper hand.
Thompson is presently with Gilas Pilipinas in Kaunas, Lithuania, the place the crew performed a collection of pleasant matches.
Scottie injures hand
Gilas Pilipinas guard Scottie Thompson throughout a sport in opposition to Jordan within the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers. Picture by Fiba
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Thursday bared the standing of the reigning Philippine Basketball Affiliation Most Invaluable Participant (MVP).
“Scottie Thompson suffered a metacarpal fracture throughout apply right here in Kaunas, Lithuania. Thompson was instantly delivered to the hospital for an x-ray the place the fracture was confirmed,” the federation wrote.
The federation didn’t focus on Thompson’s availability for the World Cup however stated the 29-year-old guard will seek the advice of a specialist to find out the timeline of his restoration when the crew returns to Manila.
Thompson has greater than a month to get well earlier than the opener of the World Cup, the place the Philippines is bunched in Group A with Angola, the Dominican Republic and Italy.
Thompson noticed motion in six video games within the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the place he averaged 6.2 factors, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per match.
Greece in bother
The Athletic cited a league supply as saying that Antetokounmpo’s availability for Greece is “in query” after what it described as surgical procedure to “clear up free cartilage in his left knee.”
The 2-time NBA MVP suffered a again harm throughout Sport 1 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff in opposition to the Miami Warmth and didn’t return till Sport 4. The Bucks, the No. 1 seed within the East, had been upset in 5 by Miami within the best-of-seven collection.
The World Cup shall be additionally held in Japan and Indonesia, however all groups that make it out of the group stage will fly to Manila for the knockout section.
Greece has been drawn in Group C with the USA, New Zealand and Jordan.
Shedding Antetokounmpo could be an enormous blow to Greece’s hopes within the event.
He was high scorer in final 12 months’s EuroBasket event, averaging 29.3 factors though his crew went out within the round-of-16 to the Czech Republic.
Antetokounmpo was a part of the Greece crew on the 2019 World Cup, which didn’t get out of the group stage.
The 28-year-old’s older brother and Bucks’ teammate Thanasis, can be a part of the Greece squad alongside along with his youthful brother Kostas, who performs for Greek membership Panathinaikos.
—REPORTS FROM LANCE AGCAOILI AND AFP
Supply: sports activities.inquirer.internet