Greek Freak Forfeits 2023 FIBA World Cup Participation,chances for Greece decrease
Greece saw a significant decrease in their chances of winning the 2023 FIBA World Cup due to Giannis "Greek Freak" Antetokounmpo's decision to sit out the tournament for a minor knee surgery.
The 2023 FIBA World Cup will be held in Asia again, with games starting on August 26. The event will be hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. This year's World Cup will have 32 national teams participating, and Spain is the defending champion.
In June, Greece was considered the third favorite to win the FIBA World Cup, with odds of +900. However, following Griece's confirmation that Antetokounmpo would not be playing, their odds dropped to +2200 and they are now ranked eighth on the list.
Seven spots for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are on the line at the FIBA World Cup. France, as the host country, automatically qualifies, while the top seven teams at the World Cup will also make it to the Olympics.
Minor Knee Surgery for Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP for the Milwaukee Bucks, had knee surgery in July to clean out loose cartilage in his left knee.
Greece had planned to compete in the World Cup without Antetokounmpo after he missed several training camps and warm-up games. In a message to fans, Antetokounmpo shared his disappointment about the decision, citing the need to recover fully. He stated that he was not in the shape required to compete at a high level.
The Bucks, led by Antetokounmpo, secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. However, they were eliminated in the first round by the Miami Heat. Without a healthy Antetokounmpo, the Heat cruised to victory in just five games.
USA is the Favorite
Team USA is currently the favorite to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with -120 odds. Canada (+500), France (+700), Slovenia (+900), and Australia (+900) are among the favorites ahead of Greece.
Greece is in Pool C at the World Cup, along with Team USA, Jordan, and New Zealand. The Greek team will face off against the Americans on August 30 during pool play.
Team USA's most recent success in the event was in 2014, where they won back-to-back FIBA World Cups by defeating Serbia. The US team also claimed victory at the 2010 FIBA World Cup, beating Turkey.
Team USA experienced a letdown at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Though they had a strong roster that included several NBA players, they were hobbled by injuries and finished the tournament with a 6-2 record. They were defeated by France in the quarterfinals, ultimately concluding in a seventh-place finish.
Spain, the defending champions, are ranked sixth on the futures board with +1100 odds. In 2019, the Spanish team, led by the Hernangomez brothers, claimed victory against France in the 2022 EuroBasket finals.
Slovenia has +900 odds of winning the World Cup, mainly due to the presence of Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks. They are aiming to recover after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the 2022 EuroBasket.
Serbia also hopes to win the World Cup, but they will be without Nikola Jokic, who helped the Denver Nuggets win their first NBA championship in June. As a result, Serbia is at +1300 odds.
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Source: www.casino.org
