FIBA World Cup 2019: 5 non-Team USA teams with a chance to win gold

Greece

Greece is the last nation to defeat Team USA in a major tournament, although what happened in 2006 is best left in 2006.

There is a new reason to give Greece at least a chance to take the gold medal and it comes in the person of reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

If Greece can get to the elimination round, the Greek Freak could prove to be a very tough out in a single-elimination format.

The silver medal Greece won in the 2006 FIBA World Championships is the nation’s only medal in a major international competition, but Greece finished ninth in 2014 and did not qualify for the last two Olympics.

The only other current NBA player on the Greek roster is Giannis’ older brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who is not at the same level as his kid sibling (in fairness, few are).

Greece has a pair of former NBA players in Georgios Papagiannis and Nick Calathes and their roster includes the person who goes with the oft-traded rights to Georgios Printezis.

The Greek squad is a fascinating blend of young and old, with 35-year-olds in Ioannis Bourousis and Panagiotis Vasilopoulos and 34-year-old Printezis joined with 21-year-old point guard Antonis Koniaris along with the 24-year-old MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and 22-year-old Papagiannis.

Greece, with the MVP, has to be given at least a puncher’s chance. They are in Group F with Brazil, Montenegro and New Zealand and, if they get out of there, will be in a tough second-round group that will likely include Team USA and either Turkey or the Czech Republic from Group E.