Giannis, Sengun reconcile after EuroBasket social media feud

Sep 17, 2025 12:28 AM

Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece and Alperen Sengun of Turkey issued public apologies for inflammatory remarks made on social media during the final days of EuroBasket 2025.

Antetokounmpo acknowledged making an inappropriate comment in response to disrespectful messages, emphasizing that he never intended to offend anyone and expressed respect for Turkey and people worldwide.

His comments on an Instagram live stream, in which he said, “Take the f-cking Turkish flag out of here” after Greece’s win over Finland in the silver-medal game, drew criticism.

Sengun also apologized, describing a post following Turkey’s semifinal win over Greece as a “communication mistake” and stressing his respect for Greek people.

The comment, “Wouldn’t the sea weather be nice?” was widely interpreted by Greeks as a reference to the 1922 burning of Smyrna during the Greco-Turkish War, a sensitive historical event.

To demonstrate reconciliation, Antetokounmpo shared a photo of himself and Sengun hugging after a Milwaukee Bucks–Houston Rockets game, captioned with a message about playing for the love of their countries and the game, and reminding fans that sports should unite, not divide.

The exchange between the two players initially escalated after Sengun commented that “Giannis is an amazing player but not a great passer” regarding Turkey’s semifinal strategy.

Antetokounmpo responded during the bronze-medal presser by deflecting the criticism, saying he focuses on his own response rather than engaging in back-and-forth arguments, highlighting his on-court performance as the true measure.

Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis also weighed in, remarking that Sengun was “a very, very small kid to talk about Giannis,” underscoring the age and experience difference between the two stars.

Overall, both players sought to clarify their intentions, apologize for any offense, and emphasize respect and sportsmanship.