Giannis Antetokounmpo: 'The game in Europe is way harder than in the NBA' / News - Basketnews.com

Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed that he gets tired from the many games during the yearly schedule and admitted that basketball is harder to play in Europe than in the NBA.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Giannis Antetokounmpo talked to the press at the Milwaukee Bucks media day yesterday. Going into his 10th season in the NBA, the Greek Freek comes to the new year straight after competing for Greece in EuroBasket 2022.

Talking about the experience, Giannis admitted that he becomes tired due to the schedule of playing both domestically and internationally.

"It's a lot, you get burned out a little bit," the player told. "Playing a lot of basketball through the past few years, you need to take a break not only physically but mentally - to go away from the game and spend some time with your family, do what you love and just sit on the couch eating Doritos, and be a couch potato. You need that in order for you to be great. It sounds bad but you need it."

Greece was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the EuroBasket by eventual third-place winner Germany but Giannis enjoyed the experience. Since Greece did not make it into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, it was the first time Antetokounmpo played for his home country in three years.

"It was a great experience representing my country, I had fun. It was the first time I saw people engaged. People had hope, basketball came back to Greece even though we were one game short of the medals," the Greek Freak told. "I felt like people had hope, and it was the most amazing thing. People were following us on the road everywhere we went and were cheering for us, cheering for the flag."

"Representing your national team is heavy, it's not easy. It's a flag, you represent the whole country. I think 6 or 7 million people watched the games we played when it's ten-and-a-half million people in Greece, that's awesome. Obviously, I'm a bit tired physically and mentally but I'm excited about the season," he explained. "This summer was fun."

Giannis was elected into the All-EuroBasket team even though his team did not participate in the final stages of the tournament. The Greek Freak averaged 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists for Greece. Nevertheless, he admits that it was way harder than in the NBA, similarly to what Luka Doncic said several months ago.

"The game in Europe is way harder than the game in the NBA," he said. "The talent in the NBA is obviously higher. I think over there it's more intense. People pick you up full court, lanes close, and it's a lot more physical. I don't know if they're more physical because you have less talent."

"For a kid like me who came from nothing, I think the NBA spoiled me a little bit," Giannis explained. "When you go overseas, things are not the same. Things are easy here, it doesn't take a toll on you. We're beyond blessed."

Giannis Antetokounmpo's interview at the media day:

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