Giannis Antetokounmpo was overcome with emotion after making history.
This week, a series of international basketball tournaments determined which countries qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Among the many 24 teams fighting over the 4 remaining spots was Greece, and by beating Croatia, 80-69, on Sunday, it earned the appropriate to play in its first Olympics since 2008.
Antetokounmpo was teary-eyed shortly after the ultimate buzzer.
Antetokounmpo had 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists within the victory, which can send him to his first-ever Olympics.
Former NBA draft lottery pick Georgios Papagiannis finished with 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting, with 16 of those points coming in the primary half.
Greece hosted the qualifying tournament in Piraeus, which featured Slovenia — led by Luka Doncic and blown out by Greece within the semifinals — in addition to Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Recent Zealand and the Crotian team Greece defeated within the finals.
Croatia is led by NBA mainstays Ivica Zubac and Dario Saric, in addition to former Knicks swingman Mario Hezonja.
Brazil won a qualifying tournament in Latvia against the hosts to maneuver on to their third Olympics in 4 years.
Spain protected homecourt and outlasted a history-making Bahamian team who nearly qualified for his or her first Summer Games — Spain will now be of their seventh straight Olympics.
Greece, Brazil and Spain join the previous eight qualified teams: Germany, Serbia, USA, Canada, South Sudan, Japan, Australia, and the host France.
The twelfth and final Olympic qualifier was determined Sunday night, when Puerto Rico defeated Lithuania.
