MILWAUKEE —The Giannis Antetokounmpo saga took one other twist Friday when the two-time MVP left the Milwaukee Bucks’ 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets with 34 seconds remaining on account of a proper calf damage. Antetokounmpo will bear an MRI Saturday and mentioned that he expects to overlook 4 to 6 weeks, which might maintain him out till after the Feb. 5 commerce deadline. An official timeline can be decided after he undergoes imaging.
“I used to be feeling it nearly all of the sport, however didn’t need to cease enjoying. However on the finish I couldn’t transfer. I needed to cease,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “For me to cease enjoying and never be capable to transfer, it was extraordinarily painful.”
Antetokounmpo missed over three weeks in December with a proper soleus (calf muscle) pressure, and was nonetheless on a minutes restriction for Friday’s contest. It is unclear precisely when Antetokounmpo re-aggravated the damage, however he lacked his ordinary explosiveness all through the night time. Regardless of being restricted bodily, he completed with 22 factors, 13 rebounds and 7 assists on 4 of 8 from the sphere and 14 of 16 from the free throw line.
The Bucks fell behind by as many as 23 early within the fourth quarter, however staged a livid comeback to chop the deficit to 1 within the remaining seconds. Antetokounmpo checked out with 34 seconds remaining, nevertheless, and didn’t return.
“I did not like what my eyes have been seeing, personally,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers mentioned. “Giannis was defiant about staying in. On that one play you could possibly see him making an attempt to run down the ground, I had had sufficient. I did not ask, I simply took him out. He really wished to return in. That was a no for me.”
Antetokounmpo has a historical past of calf accidents. Along with the correct calf pressure that saved him out for 3 weeks earlier this season, he missed over two weeks (and sat out of the All-Star Sport) final season on account of a left calf pressure. As well as, a left calf pressure saved him out of the ultimate week of the common season and the playoffs in 2024.
“I do not assume it appears to be like nice, personally,” Rivers mentioned of Antetokounmpo’s newest damage. “This calf retains developing and it is regarding. I am not a health care provider, however I am sensible sufficient to know that his calf retains bothering him and there is one thing that’s there and it retains taking place, and that is troublesome for all of us.”
Antetokounmpo was visibly pissed off at his locker after the sport.
“Most likely the subsequent steps can be go to MRI tomorrow, after the MRI they’ll inform me most likely I popped one thing in my calf, or my soleus, one thing. They will most likely give me a protocol of 4 to 6 weeks that I will be out. That is from my expertise being round within the NBA,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “After that, I’ll work my butt off to come back again. That may most likely be the top of February, starting of March. Hopefully the group can be in a spot that we will a minimum of make the Play-In or the playoffs. Simply take it day-by-day, attempt to get higher.”
It stays to be seen how lengthy Antetokounmpo can be sidelined, however an prolonged absence could be a significant blow. Friday’s defeat was the sixth within the final eight video games for the Bucks, who are actually a season-worst eight video games below .500. At 18-26, they’re in eleventh place within the Japanese Convention and a pair of.5 video games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the ultimate Play-In Event spot.
The Bucks don’t management their first-round choose within the 2026 NBA Draft, however they’ll obtain the least favorable of their choose and the New Orleans Pelicans’ choose. The Pelicans have the second-worst document within the league, which suggests it’s doable for the Bucks to get a lottery choice.
Giannis Antetokounmpo commerce rumors: Bucks’ conversations with star participant have ‘intensified,’ per report
Jack Maloney
An prolonged absence for Antetokounmpo wouldn’t solely have an effect on the Bucks’ playoff possibilities, however throw a significant wrench into the commerce deadline plans for the Bucks and quite a few different groups. There was loads of hypothesis about Antetokounmpo’s future forward of the Feb. 5 deadline, and Brian Windhorst reported earlier this week that “Giannis is the commerce deadline … The complete league is watching Giannis.”
