Giannis Antetokounmpo included in Greece's World Cup preliminary roster / News - Basketnews.com

Greece announced a 22-man preliminary squad to start their FIBA World Cup preparation, with Giannis Antetokounmpo spearheading the selections.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Greece NT start their Word Cup campaign next Monday (July 24) with the first gathering taking place at the OAKA arena. The team coached by Dimitris Itoudis will play the group stage in Manila, facing Jordan, USA and New Zealand.

The main question ahead of the call-ups was whether Giannis Antetokounmpo would be included in the preliminary roster. The NBA star had a cleanup in his left knee some time ago, which left many doubts hanging over his availability. However, for the time being and until further notice, the two-time NBA MVP will participate in the team's preparation, although his entry date hasn't been announced.

Giannis' brothers, forward Thanasis and big man Kostas, are also on the roster.

As expected, guards Kostas Sloukas and Nick Calathes will not be available, for the first time in the last decade. Sloukas had asked to take the summer off, while Calathes followed a few days later, informing Itoudis that he intends to skip the World Cup.

Thomas Walkup will be Greece's naturalized player in the upcoming tournament and will make his debut, as Tyler Dorsey couldn't make it.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Thanasis Antetokounmpo Kostas Antetokounmpo Giorgos Papagiannis Ioannis Papapetrou Dinos Mitoglou Dimitris Moraitis Kostas Papanikolaou Thomas Walkup Giannoulis Larentzakis Michalis Lountzis Lefteris Mantzoukas Lefteris Bochoridis Dimitris Agravanis Dimitris Flionis Nikos Rogkavopoulos Vangelis Zougris Vasilis Charalambopoulos Panagiotis Kalaitzakis Nikos Chougkaz Giorgos Tsalmpouris Vassilis Toliopoulos

During the preparation period, Greece will play Slovenia in Ljubljana on August 2. The two teams will square off two days later at OAKA in a game where the Greek federation will honor Nikos Galis. Greece will play Serbia and Italy for the Acropolis Tournament on August 8 and 10, before traveling to Abu Dhabi for two more friendlies against USA and Germany on August 18-19.

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