Greece wrapped up the second day of Round of 16 action at FIBA EuroBasket 2025 in style, securing a hard-fought victory over Israel to maintain their Quarter-Finals hopes.
After the game, Tyler Dorsey spoke to reporters in the mixed zone, reflecting on the team’s performance.
“[Getting the job done is] all that matters. No matter how many points you win, you just want to get the win,” he said, emphasizing the team’s focus on results over style points.
Once again, the spotlight belonged to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek superstar poured in 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a dominant performance that left Israel scrambling for answers.
“Dominant, they couldn’t stop him tonight,” Dorsey said of The Greek Freak.
“We kept feeding him, he did what he did tonight. He’s one of the best in the world, so we’re glad to have him. Glad to get the win and get some rest and get ready for Lithuania,” he added, underlining both the individual brilliance and team planning that went into the win.
When asked whether he preferred the NBA or FIBA version of Giannis, Dorsey explained, “He’s unstoppable in both FIBA and NBA, but obviously, in the NBA they can’t sit in the paint as much, so he gets a lot more transition points.”
The guard also highlighted the growing chemistry around Antetokounmpo.
“I think we mesh well around Giannis, and we’re doing our best. I think our chemistry is growing, and we’re gonna have to get ready. We gotta step up. Some nights he’s gonna get 40 [points], some nights he’s gonna get 10 assists like the Spain game. We just gotta be ready to step up.”
Greece also benefited from the contributions of the 2005-born forward Alexandros Samodurov, who made a notable impact with four offensive rebounds, generating crucial second-chance points.
“They were packing, staying on our shooters, and leaving him open. He made big plays. A lot of big offensive rebounds that gave us second-chance points, and that was really big. Obviously, he’s coming back from an injury, and we needed that,” Dorsey said of the young forward’s performance.
Looking ahead, Dorsey emphasized the importance of every player stepping up consistently.
“We need guys to step up, you know, every game. He has talent, so as long as he keeps working and keeps getting stronger, he’s gonna be really good,” he added, noting Samodurov’s potential to become a key contributor in the future.
Next up for coach Vassilis Spanoulis’ team is a Quarter-Finals clash with Lithuania.
“They’re fighters. You see all the games, you cannot sleep on anybody, any player can have a night, so we have to be ready for them,” Dorsey said, previewing the challenge ahead.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, he added, “We knew it was urgent because any team can upset you any night. It got us on our toes for sure. We have to close games a little bit better, but we will figure that out,” showing a mix of caution and confidence as Greece looks forward to the next stage.
Tyler Dorsey on Giannis Antetokounmpo: “Unstoppable both in FIBA and NBA”#Eurobasket https://t.co/J705LDPPY5
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 7, 2025
