Giannoulis Larentzakis downplayed the incident with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during Greece's match against Canada, emphasizing that it was a minor misunderstanding.
Giannoulis Larentzakis has downplayed the scuffle with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during Greece's game against Canada, explaining it as a minor misunderstanding.
Giannoulis Larentzakis
| Team: |
Greece Olympiacos Piraeus |
| Position: | SG |
| Age: | 30 |
| Height: | 200 cm |
| Weight: | 91 kg |
| Birth place: | Marousi, Greece |
The incident occurred when Larentzakis accidentally bumped into Shai's teammate, Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The tension briefly escalated but was quickly resolved.
"I accidentally bumped into his cousin, and Shai came over and spoke to me," Larentzakis said. "I didn't react at all. He said his piece, and that was it. Nothing happened, I didn't say anything. It's over now."
Despite the minor on-court altercation, Larentzakis and the Greek team remain focused on their next crucial game against Spain.
Larentzakis emphasized the importance of each possession in their quest to advance to the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games.
"We must be focused on every play against Spain," Larentzakis stated.
"Every phase matters for our progression. The Olympic Games are unique; playing for your country brings a different kind of pressure. We want to achieve something significant, and I believe we have worked hard and built great team chemistry. We trust in ourselves to succeed."
Team coach Vassilis Spanoulis echoed Larentzakis' sentiment, pointing to the players' determination and belief.
"The Olympic Games are different, and there's pressure to perform well. But I see the spark in our players' eyes," Spanoulis said.
"We know what we need to do to advance. These tournaments are unique, and sometimes, a single point can make the difference between moving forward or being eliminated. Every possession counts, and our minds are set on the crucial match against Spain. Every game is like a final; we approach each one seriously."
Group A standings of Olympic basketball tournament
| # | Team | GM | W | L | PPG | PPG A | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 92.0 | 80.0 | 12 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 86.0 | 79.0 | 7 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 79.0 | 86.0 | -7 | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 80.0 | 92.0 | -12 |
