We were expecting it. Of course we were expecting it. One of the great superstars of this EuroBasket 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his debut against Croatia this Friday. And what an entry! Already huge in impact despite some clumsy shooting, the Freak wasted no time in showing who really is boss. Especially when it was necessary to put the lid on the meeting.
There’s a minute left to play. While Greece raced in the lead for most of the match, Croatia start dreaming of a heist when they own the ball just two points down. We recall that there was +16 at the break and another +8 at the start of the last quarter, in other words that the Croats would have signed immediately for such a scenario. Only problem, opposite there is a man, or rather a monster, who is a specialist when it comes to transforming dreams into nightmares. We leave you in front of the images, because sometimes they speak louder than words.
The cons + alley oop from Giannis, the TOTAL.pic.twitter.com/rsuxjmB8Sm
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) September 2, 2022
First sequence in Greek Freak mode: Giannis covers the pivot of the Clippers Ivica Zubac who was already seeing himself equalized, then takes advantage of a caviar from Nick Calathes to let go of the alley-oop which kills.
A great basketball player would have stopped there, with the legitimate feeling of the work accomplished. But a generational basketball player like Giannis gives a layer of it to leave absolutely no hope to his opponent.
The guy counters D’ALIÉNANT in the corner (???) and he continues that with a sublime and one on the counterattack: GIANNIS ????pic.twitter.com/ScvubCcFfq
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) September 2, 2022
Second sequence in Greek Freak mode: Antetokounmpo tarpaulins an attempt at… 3-points in the corner as he left the racket (this sentence makes absolutely no sense), before leaving on the other side of the field to register the 2 + 1 which allows permanently close the shop.
This is obviously not the first time that Giannis has come out with such craziness. Deandre Ayton and the Suns are here to testify. On the other hand, each time we are behind our screen and we see this kind of sequences coming straight from Pluto, we always understand a little more why this guy is nicknamed the Freak. And not only did Antetokounmpo release a mutant money timer, but he also ended the encounter with 27 total points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks and 1 steal in 29 minutes. Suffice to say he was on the job from start to finish in this Group C clash against Croatia. So of course, Giannis was also struggling with his shot (9/24 in all, 0/4 at 3-points) but the work carried out was enormous. So ask Ivica Zubac and her friends what it’s like to get a Giannis in the paint. So ask the Croats how badly Giannis can hurt when he draws the entire defense onto himself only to then unleash his open buddies. Finally, ask coach Damir Mulaomerovic for the cold sweats he may have had when he saw the Freak leave so often in transition to take everything in his path. No doubt, Giannis Antetokounmpo is on a mission today and Croatia is the first victim on his way to the heights of Europe. And clearly, it will not be the last.
While he initially left the star to his teammate Tyler Dorsey, Giannis gained momentum until he released this monumental end to the match which clearly sets the tone for the rest of the competition. The competition can freak out, the Freak is already possessed!