Alley-oop slam! Giannis scores 20 as Greece falls to France; 12-man EuroBasket roster announced

On August 25th Beijing time, in the last warm-up match before EuroBasket kicks off, Greece was defeated by France 77-92. Giannis logged 21 minutes, making 4 of 7 shots and sinking 12 of 14 free throws, tallying 20 points, 3 assists, and 1 rebound, and showcased a thunderous alley-oop dunk during the game. Still, France claimed the win and ended the warm-up phase unbeaten.

At the start of the game, Greece showed stronger form, leading throughout the first half and finishing the first two quarters ahead 49-43. But after halftime, France significantly ramped up their defensive pressure, launching a 28-12 scoring run in the third quarter that flipped the score, giving them a double-digit lead of 71-61 going into the final period. The fourth quarter mirrored the third, with France extending their advantage and ultimately winning 92-77 in Athens.

France’s offensive focal point in this game was their new Real Madrid addition, Maledon, who contributed 16 points (2-for-2 on two-pointers, 2-for-2 on three-pointers) along with 5 assists.

Additionally, Knicks forward Abusele and Hawks rising star Rissassi each added 14 points, playing key roles in securing the team’s victory.

Following this game, Greece officially announced their 12-man EuroBasket roster, with the young Zourglis being the final player cut. All three Adetokunbo brothers made the team. The final Greek squad is: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Sloukas, Kazyvilis, Toliopoulos, Tyler Dorsey, Larenzakis, Papanikolaou, Karatzakis, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Samodurov, and Mitoglou.

Greek head coach Spanoulis explained the decision by saying, “He (Zourglis) is a very talented young player who has been steadily improving; the future belongs to him.”

Notably, Thanasis Antetokounmpo will make his official return to competition in this EuroBasket after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery. Since May 2024, he has been sidelined due to this injury.