Photo: FIBA

Everyone is familiar with what Giannis Antetokounmpo brings to the court – his dominance, versatility, and leadership are unquestioned. Many have also come to admire his older brother Thanasis for his trademark energy and passion.

But in Greece’s EuroBasket 2025 Quarter-Final victory over Lithuania, it was the youngest of the three brothers in Riga, Kostas Antetokounmpo, who emerged from the shadows and carved out his own moment in the spotlight.

Kostas logged a personal tournament-high of 16 minutes in Greece’s 87-76 win, a performance that not only helped secure the team’s place in the Semi-Finals but also earned him widesKostas Antetokounmpo shines, steps out shadow Giannispread recognition from teammates and head coach Vassilis Spanoulis. Finishing with 4 points and 4 blocks, his presence was felt far beyond the box score.

“Kostas had a great game. His energy and concentration were at a very, very high level and he really helped us a lot,” said Spanoulis, praising the 27-year-old big man’s impact. “We know what Kostas can give to the team. And he was really, really important today for our win.”

Despite fouling out, Kostas stuffed the stat sheet with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and an efficiency rating of 13.

Most telling, however, was his team-best +19 in plus/minus, proof of how influential he was whenever on the floor. That impressed veteran forward Kostas Papanikolaou, who emphasized the subtleties of his younger teammate’s contribution.

“Kostas was super amazing, a super key player for us today. Somebody might look at the stat sheet and see he only had 4 points and I would even leave out the blocked shots,” said Papanikolaou.

“The way he positioned himself on the court, altered shots because guys had to shoot the ball higher to avoid his blocks and his denies on a couple of defenses on (Lithuania star big man Jonas) Valanciunas gave so much to the team. Those little things meant so much and gave the team confidence. They cannot be measured and they cannot be seen in the stats sheet.”

Kostas also showed toughness and loyalty when Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas delivered a hard foul on Giannis in the second half. The younger Antetokounmpo immediately stepped in, refusing to back down against the physical presence of the Lithuanian captain.

“Kostas is a great player, very athletic. We know how to use him. He made such big plays for us today. We’re happy for him and hopefully he can continue to play like this,” said forward Dinos Mitoglou.

Guard Vasileios Toliopoulos echoed the sentiment, pointing out how his effort went beyond scoring. “He had an amazing game. He was rim protecting everything. He dove to the floor and had a great impact on the game.”

With Greece now guaranteed at least two more games, the team stands on the brink of history: one win away from their first podium finish in 16 years, two victories from ending a 20-year wait for their third EuroBasket crown.

And as the Greeks continue their march, it seems certain that this will not be the last time Kostas Antetokounmpo shines in a pivotal role.

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