Latest news with #GiannisAntetokounmpo
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 things to know before going to the National Sports Collectors Convention
The National Sports Collectors Convention should be a bucket-list destination for sports fans. Even if you don't collect sports cards, it's the type of place you should go to at least once in your life. Yes, the convention is filled with cards. But it also has history, athletes, celebrities, memorabilia and so much more. This year's National is the 45th installment and will be at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., which is next door to Chicago, July 30-Aug. 3. Here are 10 things every sports fan or collector should know before attending the National. Bring snacks and water: You will be surprised how quickly time goes by at a show and how you can sometimes forget to eat. Bring snacks and water to stay fueled and hydrated throughout the show. Then, get a nice dinner. (I hope you've already made those Gibson's reservations). Cash is king: Even though we all use cards and apps to pay for items these days, cash is still king at a show like the National. There are also more deals to be made with cash. More than 150 autograph signers: Athletes and celebrities are signing all five days at the National, from all-time greats like Johnny Bench and Bo Jackson to modern stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Pete Crow-Armstrong. There are also celebrities like Spike Lee and Randy Quaid. If you're planning to get any autographs, plan your schedules early. Get your cards graded: The National provides the unique opportunity to get cards graded at the venue. Normally, collectors have to send their cards to the grading companies to get them encapsulated. At the National, you can get your cards back in as quickly as three hours — it just depends on how much you're willing to pay. Visit the corporate pavilion: The corporate pavilion has changed over the years at the National and has become bigger and much better. Companies like Panini, Topps, Upper Deck and Fanatics put up huge booths with plenty of different experiences. You can spend an entire day having fun in the corporate area. Prices may drop on Sunday: It's not a guarantee, but in past years prices have come down on Sunday. Often, there are deals to be had because dealers don't want to bring inventory home. Many of them want to get rid of as much as they can at the show. Bring your own supplies: If you're opening boxes of cards, there's no worse feeling in pulling a big hit and having no way to protect it. Bring your own supplies so that you can make sure that your cards are always protected. That means, penny sleeves, top loaders and team bags, at the very least. Wifi Issues: The WiFi and your phone service may not work during peak hours at the show. This has been an issue at all major shows, including the National. Consider there are tens of thousands of people who are trying to connect to the internet and it essentially creates a digital log jam. If there's anything you need online, do it before heading into the show. Content creators galore: There are going to be a lot of people with cameras and microphones. Content creation is part of the scene now. It's not just people walking around the show, but also dealers, as everyone is trying to get the next viral video. Not sure there's a way to avoid it, but be warned of what you're getting into while at the National. Trade shows in hotel lobbies: The National doesn't only take place at the convention center. Many times, hotel lobbies or other gathering spots turn into an impromptu trade night. Some of the very best deals happen in these moments.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 things to know before going to the National Sports Collectors Convention
The National Sports Collectors Convention should be a bucket-list destination for sports fans. Even if you don't collect sports cards, it's the type of place you should go to at least once in your life. Yes, the convention is filled with cards. But it also has history, athletes, celebrities, memorabilia and so much more. This year's National is the 45th installment and will be at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., which is next door to Chicago, July 30-Aug. 3. Here are 10 things every sports fan or collector should know before attending the National. Bring snacks and water: You will be surprised how quickly time goes by at a show and how you can sometimes forget to eat. Bring snacks and water to stay fueled and hydrated throughout the show. Then, get a nice dinner. (I hope you've already made those Gibson's reservations). Cash is king: Even though we all use cards and apps to pay for items these days, cash is still king at a show like the National. There are also more deals to be made with cash. More than 150 autograph signers: Athletes and celebrities are signing all five days at the National, from all-time greats like Johnny Bench and Bo Jackson to modern stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Pete Crow-Armstrong. There are also celebrities like Spike Lee and Randy Quaid. If you're planning to get any autographs, plan your schedules early. Get your cards graded: The National provides the unique opportunity to get cards graded at the venue. Normally, collectors have to send their cards to the grading companies to get them encapsulated. At the National, you can get your cards back in as quickly as three hours — it just depends on how much you're willing to pay. Visit the corporate pavilion: The corporate pavilion has changed over the years at the National and has become bigger and much better. Companies like Panini, Topps, Upper Deck and Fanatics put up huge booths with plenty of different experiences. You can spend an entire day having fun in the corporate area. Prices may drop on Sunday: It's not a guarantee, but in past years prices have come down on Sunday. Often, there are deals to be had because dealers don't want to bring inventory home. Many of them want to get rid of as much as they can at the show. Bring your own supplies: If you're opening boxes of cards, there's no worse feeling in pulling a big hit and having no way to protect it. Bring your own supplies so that you can make sure that your cards are always protected. That means, penny sleeves, top loaders and team bags, at the very least. Wifi Issues: The WiFi and your phone service may not work during peak hours at the show. This has been an issue at all major shows, including the National. Consider there are tens of thousands of people who are trying to connect to the internet and it essentially creates a digital log jam. If there's anything you need online, do it before heading into the show. Content creators galore: There are going to be a lot of people with cameras and microphones. Content creation is part of the scene now. It's not just people walking around the show, but also dealers, as everyone is trying to get the next viral video. Not sure there's a way to avoid it, but be warned of what you're getting into while at the National. Trade shows in hotel lobbies: The National doesn't only take place at the convention center. Many times, hotel lobbies or other gathering spots turn into an impromptu trade night. Some of the very best deals happen in these moments.
NBC Sports
13 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Giannis Antetokounmpo confirmed to play for Greece in EuroBasket this summer
Giannis Antetokounmpo will play for Greece in FIBA EuroBasket. This is not a surprise — he had said that if he were healthy, he would play — but is now confirmed by the Greek national team. 20 years later, Hellas for the title? 🇬🇷🏆#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark Antetokounmpo is the reason Greece is a threat in the tournament, which begins on Aug. 27 and runs almost up to the start of NBA training camps. Antetokounmpo was the leading scorer at the Paris Olympics last summer, averaging 25.8 points along with 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists across four games (Greece made it out of group play in the tournament but was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Germany). Antetokounmpo also was the leading scorer at the 2022 EuroBasket averaging 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists a game. While Antetokounmpo's name was frequently mentioned in trade speculation all summer, he has said he would 'probably' return to the Bucks next season, and most around the league expect that outcome. Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic of Slovenia headline the NBA players participating in the European championships. Among the other NBA players expected to suit up are Alperen Sengun of Turkiye, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr for France, Franz Wagner for Germany, Kristaps Porzingis for Latvia and Nikola Vukcevic for Montenegro. Nikola Jokic's status for Serbia remains unknown. While he is on the preliminary 19-man roster the nation had to submit, his plans for the tournament itself are undecided (at least publicly). Victor Wembanyama is out for France, recovering from a blood clot issue in his shoulder, and Rudy Gobert will also not suit up for a French team that won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics a year ago.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bucks GM declares he has done everything ‘possible' to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo
The post Bucks GM declares he has done everything 'possible' to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared first on ClutchPoints. It's been a turbulent offseason for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have fended off Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors by waiving Damian Lillard and signing Myles Turner using the cap space they cleared up. It remains to be seen if that alone will be enough to keep the Bucks above water in the Eastern Conference, but if it's not, it won't be for lack of trying. Recently, Bucks general manager Jon Horst spoke on how the team has exhausted every resource in trying to keep Antetokounmpo in a Milwaukee uniform. 'We've done everything, I've done everything within my human possible power this offseason. I feel like our group works our butts off,' said Horst, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. '…We do everything we can to put the next version of this thing out there, to give Doc and Giannis and Bobby and Scoot (Kevin Porter Jr.) and the guys on our team every chance that they can to win every night.' Horst also acknowledged that he can't say for sure whether his efforts have been enough to keep Antetokounmpo around for the long haul. '…have we done enough? I don't know. We'll find out. Have we done everything that we possibly could? Absolutely,' said Horst. 'And have we done more than anyone else could possibly do? I believe we have. And that's not an arrogant thing to say. In a very humble way. I think we've done as much or more than anyone else could possibly do, and I'm proud of that.' Can the Bucks compete this year? At one point earlier this offseason, it looked like a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade was more or less an inevitability after the Bucks' third straight first round postseason exit. However, the current injury-riddled state of the Eastern Conference may give Antetokounmpo motivation to try to run it back one more time in Milwaukee before looking for greener pastures. Turner will certainly be an upgrade at the center position over what Brook Lopez had been the last couple of years, but the Bucks don't have a ton of help outside of that for Antetokounmpo, particularly at the guard spot. Milwaukee's season will begin in late October. Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo draws 'real point guard' take from Bucks GM Related: Bucks GM explains why Myles Turner is worth Damian Lillard's dead money
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo makes EuroBasket 2025 plans with Greece official
The post Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo makes EuroBasket 2025 plans with Greece official appeared first on ClutchPoints. Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo EuroBasket/status/1947586720255381706" rel="noopener">has officially committed to representing Greece in the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament, NBA insider Marc Stein shared. With group stage games set in Cyprus and Riga, Latvia, and the tournament tipping off on August 27, Antetokounmpo's decision comes at a pivotal moment, not just for Greek basketball but for the Bucks' franchise as well. The two-time NBA MVP will headline a 19-player preliminary roster announced by head coach Vassilis Spanoulis, with games set to start on August 28 against Italy. He'll join his brother Kostas, along with veteran players like Kostas Sloukas and Tyler Dorsey, in a renewed push for Greece's first EuroBasket title since 2005. This isn't just another international outing for the 'Greek Freak.' After a summer filled with speculation about his future in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo's decision to play for Greece reveals a player grounded in purpose. At a recent event in Athens held by the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation, Giannis emphasized his deep connection to his homeland, stating, 'When I retire, I plan to stay here. Always in Athens. Athens is my home.' Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo dreams of a homecoming He even hinted at a future reunion with his brothers at Filathlitikos. In this Athens-based club, his journey began: 'We can go back and play for Filathlitikos… promote it to the first division.' This summer's EuroBasket is personal. Antetokounmpo has long used international play as both a source of pride and motivation. His prior stints in FIBA competition, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, saw him dominate opponents, averaging 27 points on nearly 69% shooting. For Bucks fans, the message is clear: while questions about Giannis' long-term NBA future remain, especially with his potential free agency looming in 2027, his commitment to greatness is unwavering. He's preparing to lead Greece to continental glory this summer, and Milwaukee back to title contention this fall. Related: Bucks' Myles Turner draws Brook Lopez comparison Related: How Bucks feel about Damian Lillard returning to Blazers
