Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke on «Anestea the Podcast» and addressed the issue of NBA players participating in FIBA «windows,» explaining the insurance requirements necessary for them to compete, while clarifying that, if called up for the next «window,» he will be available for the national team’s games against Ukraine and Spain.
«I’m the only NBA player. And Thanasis. Since not many people know this, to make the national team, you have to pay an insurance premium to play. I don’t know if this applies to athletes who play in the EuroLeague. The law is different, but for NBA players with big contracts, because if I go there and get injured while playing for FIBA, the insurance would cover the contract I had with the Bucks or now with the Miami Heat. That’s how it is. In other words, the federations of Serbia and Finland—where the NBA players are coming from—pay for the insurance.».
The Greek star then addressed whether he had been called up by Vassilis Spanoulis for the games against Romania and Portugal: «I wasn’t called up. We thought that when we play Romania and Portugal, those are games we’re supposed to win and that are easy to win. Yes, we made a mistake. We underestimated them. We lost both, and now we have two games ahead of us.».
However, Antetokounmpo was clear about what he would do if he were called up during the next «window»:
«If I'm called up, I'll probably be there. I've played in 10 of the 12 tournaments I've been called up for. I think we're playing Spain and Ukraine. If we’re called up and everyone’s there, I’ll be there. Let’s go win those matches and make it to the World Cup.».
