Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks won't play for Greece in the coming FIBA Basketball World Cup, the player announced on Friday and said that he is very "disappointed."

"After months of work and multiple meetings with medical staff, it is clear that I am not ready to compete in the level that I need to be to participate in the World Cup," the "Greek Freak" posted on social media. "This was not a choice but my only option in ensuring I get back to the level of basketball I have worked so hard to achieve so far in my career. I am extremely disappointed in this outcome but this was a decision made with the medical staff."

Antetokounmpo underwent a procedure on his left knee to clean up loose cartilage after the 2022-23 NBA season. The Greek national team put him on the extended list for the World Cup, knowing that he may not join them in the end, but he remained hopeful that he could recover quickly enough to go to Manila, Philippines, for the tournament.

Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 rebounds per game for the Bucks during the 2022-23 regular season, helping them win 58 games, more than any other team in the league. However, they were upset by the Miami Heat 4-1 in the first-round playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo underperformed in that series, making only three appearances and getting 23.3 points, 11 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

Greece are in Group C with USA, Jordan and New Zealand in the World Cup. They will play the group stage in Manila from August 26 to 30. There are 12 European teams competing in the World Cup for two automatic qualification berths for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. Greece must achieve a top-two record of them in the tournament to qualify for Paris 2024 or they will have to participate in the Olympic qualifier games later, which may be even tougher than the World Cup.

Unfortunately, they will have to fight for it in Manila without the help of the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo, who wants to play in the Paris Olympics.

"Everyone knows my passion and love for my National Team has and never will change," Antetokounmpo wrote. "Since the conclusion of my NBA season I have been pushing my body to the limits to be the player I need to be to help our team achieve the goals we set."

"I'm going to continue to push myself to be ready for the next time my name is called. My personal, and our ultimate team goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympics games and it will be an honor to represent my National Team next year," he added.

Greece failed to make it out of Group K in the last edition of the World Cup in China in 2019, when Antetokounmpo played for the national team. They had to go to the following Tokyo Olympic qualifying tournament and lost to the Czech Republic in the end, failing to qualify for Tokyo.