Milwaukee Bucks

Following the Milwaukee Bucks’ emotional 113-110 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Giannis Antetokounmpo left a poignant message to his late father. In the aftermath of the Bucks forward setting a new single game career-high for points, Bucks beat reporter Matt Velazquez found Antetokounmpo had scribbled a message onto the game ball for his father, who died on Sept. 30.

BASKETBALL: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, and the Milwaukee Bucks opened their NBA season with a 108-100 victory over Boston on Wednesday night. [AP]

American sports network ESPN posted its picks for NBA’s fantasy draft for season 2018 and the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo is at the top of the list. “The Greek Freak was the only player in the NBA to average 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in 2016, not bad for a player who has seen his scoring average increase by more than four points per game every season of his career.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to court for practice at the Milwaukee Bucks after his temporary leave due to his father’s death. His father, Charles, 54, passed away suddenly at his home in Milwaukee from a heart attack last Friday. Giannis will be ready for the opening match against the Indiana Pacers.

Greek NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is a brand name in his own right. And the fact that the two global clothing sportswear giants, Nike and Adidas are vying for the Milwaukee Bucks star to chose their gear is simply one more piece of proof confirming his super-stardom, even though he proven over and over again how down to earth he is in his life off the courts.

Proto Thema newspaper brings to light the communication between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Greek basketball Federation regarding the inability of Giannis Antetokounmpo to take part in the 2017 Eurobasket competition with the Greek national team.

After Giannis Antetokounmpo complained of right knee pain while training with the Greek national team, Milwaukee Bucks trainers recommended he forego the European championships, causing a mild international incident between the NBA and the Greek basketball federation over the weekend.

The Milwaukee Bucks say Giannis Antetokounmpo was training briefly with the Greek national team when he reported to his NBA team that he was experiencing knee pain, an injury that will keep him out of the European championship.

Greece's basketball federation has accused the Milwaukee Bucks and the NBA of hatching a plan to prevent All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo from playing in the European championship.

The NBA denied the allegation.

The dispute between the Greek Basketball Federation and the NBA and Milwaukee Bucks over the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo continued after the NBA denied there was an organised plan to prevent then Greek Freak from taking part with the national Greek team in the European Championships. “The NBA and the Milwaukee Bucks have followed all appropriate protocol under the NBA-FIBA agreement.