This summer, Giannis Antetokounmpo finally achieved his dream of playing in the Olympic Games representing the Greek national team. He was even named flag-bearer of his country’s expedition.

Talking with The Athletic ahead of another NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Greek Freak recalled an interaction with Greece’s head coach and legend Vassilis Spanoulis, which motivated him before the Olympic challenge, where Greece lost in the Quarter-Finals to Germany.

“He would just push me and push me and push me and push me. “You’ve got more to give. Come on. When I was 29, I was the best in Europe. I had back-to-back [EuroLeague championships]. What are you doing?”, Giannis Antetokounmpo remembered what Kill Bill told him.

“All this conversation made me realize that I crave the challenge again.  course, it pisses you off, but it puts you in the mood where you’re like, “Wait, I’m going to show you” You don’t want to let [Vassilis Spanoulis] down. With the Bucks, I don’t want to let Doc Rivers down. I don’t want to let [Damian Lillard] down. I don’t want to let my team down”, he compared situations.

He also drew his goal for the 2024-25 NBA campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks, avoiding injuries like what happened in last season’s final stretch. “This year, a challenge for me is to be healthy. A challenge for me is to play in the playoffs, to get out of the first round. Assert me even more”, he commented.