The drama of EuroBasket 2025 didn’t end with the final buzzer. Instead, a heated exchange of words between Greece and Turkey stole headlines in the tournament’s closing days, with Greek coach Vassilis Spanoulis calling out Turkey’s Alperen Şengün for his remarks about Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The controversy began after Turkey’s stunning 94-68 victory over Greece in the semifinals. Şengün, who has emerged as one of Europe’s brightest young stars, was asked how his team managed to limit Antetokounmpo’s influence. His answer sparked debate: “He’s an incredible player, you know, but he’s not a very good passer. So we tried to crowd the paint.”
Those words quickly traveled across Europe, overshadowing Turkey’s strong run. Just two days later, Greece bounced back to beat Finland 92-89 and secure their first EuroBasket bronze medal in 16 years. Antetokounmpo, who powered his team with a commanding performance, chose to respond in his own way.
“I’m a guy who doesn’t like to talk much. I let my game do the talking,” Giannis told reporters. “I’m about to start my 13th season in the NBA. I’ve won everything. At the end of the day, you won’t remember what they say—you’ll remember how I responded. Go watch my YouTube clips and then ask me if I’m a good passer. Take that!”
Spanoulis, Greece’s legendary coach and one of the sport’s most respected voices, was less diplomatic. In his post-tournament comments, he dismissed the idea that Turkey had “shut down” Antetokounmpo.
“Şengün is far too young to be talking about Giannis,” Spanoulis said, quoted by basketnews.com. “He missed a few easy shots near the rim and created six chances for teammates that we didn’t convert. People claiming Turkey stopped him clearly don’t understand basketball. It just wasn’t our day.”
Meanwhile, Germany celebrated as champions after defeating Turkey 88-83 in Riga, adding the EuroBasket crown to their 2023 World Cup triumph. For Turkey, finishing as runners-up was still seen as a breakthrough performance, even as the debate around Şengün’s comments lingered.
Şengün, just 22, remains one of the fastest-rising talents in international basketball, but the exchange served as a reminder of the towering respect Giannis Antetokounmpo commands worldwide. Even in controversy, the “Greek Freak” continues to define the conversation.
