Giannis Antetokounmpo Emasculates Alperen Sengun by Listing NBA Accolades

Alperen Sengun and his Turkey national team stopped Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece in the EuroBasket 2025 semis.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Emasculates Alperen Sengun by Listing NBA Accolades

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Alperen Sengun (Image via FirstSportz)

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Giannis Antetokounmpo usually has the answer ready whenever any NBA player tends to taunt him or his Milwaukee Bucks. In international competition, it is an entirely different affair, especially when Greece faces powerhouse teams such as the Alperen Sengun-led Turkey, Serbia, or Germany.

Typically, NBA players are resting now before training camp begins next month. But national team representation is not something any of them wants to miss.

Antetokounmpo and Sengun were among a plethora of NBA stars playing in the 2025 edition of EuroBasket. Luka Doncic‘s Slovenia and Nikola Jokic‘s Serbia crashed out in the knockout stages, leaving the tournament with a few remaining NBA stars.

The Rockets center’s Turkey clashed against Greece in the semifinals, and when asked how his team handled Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alperen Sengun remarked that the Bucks star is not a great passer.

He wanted to point out that focusing on the Greek Freak tilted the game in their favor. Greece was embarrassed, with Antetokounmpo scoring a measly 12 points.

Before their third-place game against Finland, reporters at EuroBasket asked the NBA champion if he had any response to Sengun’s comments. To this, the Bucks star replied:

I’m a guy that don’t like to talk a lot, I let my game talk. I’m going into my 13th season in the NBA. I’ve won everything. Everything… I’m not the guy that will talk back to coaches or players or people that say bad things about me… You can go see my clips on YouTube, and then come back and ask me if I’m a good passer.

Giannis Antetokounmpo replied

The 2-time NBA regular-season MVP chose to use his accolades and clips of his skills on YouTube to shut down Alperen Sengun’s comments, reminding him who he is.

Giannis Antetokounmpo helps Greece win 3rd place Bronze medal

Since Giannis Antetokounmpo was made aware of these comments before Greece’s 3rd place game against Finland, it is unclear if it had an impact on his motivation.

He did storm out of the press conference after answering that question and asking reporters to look up his accomplishments before asking such questions.

The 30-year-old rebounded from that embarrassing loss to Turkey with a stellar 30-point, 17-rebound, 6-assist, and 2-block performance. Those numbers were good enough to lead his country to win against Finland, 92-89. After the win, an emotional Antetokounmpo said this:

I know I’ve won an NBA championship. But there is no feeling like representing your national team… This is probably the greatest accomplishment in my life.

Giannis Antetokounmpo told FIBA reporters

Since this game was held before the final, it gave the father of four a fitting end to his campaign. He brought his nation its first medal since 2009, which should add to his already massive popularity in the Mediterranean nation.

Alperen Sengun’s Turkey loses to Germany

After that game, it was time for Alperen Sengun and his Turkish teammates to finish their so far stellar EuroBasket campaign. The only problem was that they were facing international basketball powerhouse Germany.

EuroBasket 2025 All-Stars Alperen Sengun, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Franz Wagner, and Dennis Schroder
EuroBasket 2025 All-Stars Alperen Sengun, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Franz Wagner, and Dennis Schroder (Image via NBA France/X)

Led by NBA stars Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner, and others, the team has experience mixing it up with the best on the world stage. After trailing the 1st half, they dug deep into that experience and dominated the last 2 quarters to become EuroBasket 2025 champions with a score of 88-83.

Dennis Schroder was named the tournament MVP, and he was also part of the EuroBasket All-Star 5, including his national teammate Franz Wagner.

Along with them were Alperen Sengun, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic. Since the latter was not at the tournament, the organizers awarded the quartet with commemorative basketball pieces.

Unsurprisingly, the Rockets’ star was the only loser as Antetokounmpo and the Germans won their respective final games. That is probably why Sengun was the only stone-faced player among them.

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