In an attempt to avoid an injury and put himself in the best position to be ready for the start of Miami Heat training camp, Giannis Antetokounmpo is not going to participate for Team Greece in their FIBA competitions later this month.
The Heat want Giannis to take a cautious approach to his first season in Miami, and it appears as if he is on the same page with that line of thinking. With this decision, even though it won't make many headlines, Giannis is quietly making his biggest commitment to the Heat yet.
If nothing else, this just goes to show how important this first season of the Giannis era is for both the superstar forward and the Heat. It proves the level of seriousness that both sides appear to be taking.
The Heat need the best of Giannis Antetokounmpo
There's nothing the Heat want more heading into this upcoming season than a healthy Giannis to begin the year.
Sure, there's no guarantee that Giannis will be able to remain healthy for the duration of the season, but it doesn't make much sense to put him in a situation where that could be jeopardized. And if the Heat believes playing for Greece in FIBA competition could end up risking that, it's probably best for Giannis to take the summer off from international play.
It wouldn't be the end of the world for Giannis, and if he genuinely wants to win a championship in Miami, health needs to be his No. 1 priority right now. Especially after coming off a season in which he was plagued all year long by injuries.
The last thing that either side needs is for an injury to impact his start to his Heat career.
Giannis is slowly proving he's totally bought-in with the Heat
Slowly, but surely, Giannis is proving that he's completely bought in with the Heat. From the moment he set foot in Miami, it's seemed like he's embracing the team's culture and all its history that comes with it.
The move to sit out international play shouldn't be overlooked either. It proves that Giannis is viewing this season with the utmost attention and importance. Over the last year or two, his reputation across the league has taken a bit of a hit.
Can he remain healthy for a full season? Can he still carry a team to a championship? Does he truly care about winning?
All these questions have been asked, and now it's up to Giannis to prove the critics wrong. Heading into this season, both the Heat and Giannis have been doubted. They'll have a huge chip on their shoulders to prove everyone wrong.
And this simple decision just proved how serious both are about winning right now. For those who have not only doubted Giannis at this stage of his career, but also his commitment to a new city, it's getting awfully difficult to keep that skepticism.
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