NBA Notes: Giannis Antetokounmpo, FIBA, Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton, Nuggets

Bucks

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is finally set to join Team Greece ahead of this summer’s EuroBasket tournament.

While it has long been confirmed that Antetokounmpo would suit up for his national team, he had not yet taken part in exhibition games or training activities as he awaited written clearance from the Bucks. That hurdle appears to have been cleared.

Greek head coach Vassilis Spanoulis told Eurohoops that Antetokounmpo will begin full training with the team this weekend.

“He already had a training session with contact with some guys from our team,” Spanoulis said. “On Saturday, he will start training normally.”

The delay stemmed from Antetokounmpo’s contract size, which required additional clearance since it exceeds FIBA’s standard insurance policy. As a result, he missed Greece’s first four warm-up games, during which the team went 2-2 with wins over Belgium and Montenegro and losses to Israel and Serbia.

Greece will now turn its attention to the Acropolis Tournament in Athens, hosting Latvia, Italy and France from August 20-24. EuroBasket’s Group Stage begins for Greece on August 28, when Antetokounmpo is expected to be fully integrated into the lineup.

As for the Bucks, we have the full 2025-26 schedule here.

Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton knows the road back will be long, but he is already encouraged by the progress he has made.

While hosting a youth basketball camp in Wisconsin on Friday, the Indiana Pacers star guard spoke about his recovery from the torn Achilles that forced him out of most of Game 7 of the NBA Finals and will sideline him for the entire 2025-26 season.

“It’s been up and down. I’m finally walking without the use of crutches or a scooter or anything, so that’s exciting for me,” Haliburton said, via Kyle Malzhan of WFRV.

Haliburton said the process has been filled with small victories, each of them meaningful as he works his way back.

“I have good days and bad days,” he said. “I think every couple weeks it’s kind of like a new achievement in terms of my recovery. I think over the next couple weeks, we’ll get closer to me being able to wear shoes full-time without a boot and being able to walk and stuff like that.”

The 24-year-old was candid about the mental grind of the injury and the patience it requires.

“It’s a long process. This injury, to get back to 100 percent, is usually about a year long,” he said. “We’re only at week six, week seven now, so we still got a lot of time to get there. But I think every little progression is exciting for me. To be here, to be able to walk, it means a lot to me.

“I have a great medical team behind me that’s really helping me get things done. I’m progressing as well as I can right now, meeting with my surgeon, meeting with my medical staff at all times.”

The Pacers fell just short of the franchise’s first championship last season. Haliburton said that disappointment is fueling him as he continues his rehab.

“When you look back on the year that was and how special it was, it means a lot for me,” he said. “When I am able to get back to 100 percent, the chase continues. That’s the exciting part for me.”

Nuggets