The Greek basketball federation's president, Giorgos Vasilakopoulos, has strong feelings about Giannis Antetokounmpo and his recent decisions to not play for the national team. There's a rift between the two, and Vasilakopoulos blames Antetokounmpo's agent for the issues, though last year the attacks were lobbed at the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis' agent, Giorgos Panou, spoke with Sport FM radio about the rocky relationship (Via Aris Barkas of EuroHoops):

“I have to say that I speak for myself and not on behalf of Giannis. I know Giannis since he was 14 years old and I have to clarify some things about him because he never gave the right to anyone to present him as a marionette or a pawn. Mister Vasilakopoulos once more insults one of the top Greek players and presents him having no free will. The truth is the exact opposite. Last year the Federation attacked the Bucks, this year the problem is the agents. However two years ago Vasilakopoulos called without shame Giannis and his brother Thanasis to their faces ‘leashed bears' who were parading around Greece in the events that they organized themselves. That morning Giannis decided to stay silent, respecting the age and the mantle of the president. However, two people with such different perception of reality can’t co-exist. That’s why Giannis decided to announce himself that he was not able to play in Eurobasket 2017 due to his knee injury”.

Obviously, the term “leashed bears” is an insult aimed at the Antetokounmpo brothers. Vasilakopoulos is insinuating that the brothers have no free will and they don't control their own fate. This seems like a strange way to treat your country's brightest star.