Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been listed as questionable for Friday’s game in New York, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Antetokounmpo is dealing with a strained left adductor, which is part of the groin.
The two-time MVP has missed the past four games — and most of a fifth — after suffering the injury on November 17 at Cleveland. Milwaukee lost all five games without its best player and has dropped six straight overall.
Antetokounmpo, who turns 31 years old on Dec. 6, was also considered questionable for Wednesday’s game in Miami before being ruled out. Head coach Doc Rivers said the nine-time All-NBA forward hasn’t experienced a setback, according to Nehm (Twitter link).
“No,” Rivers said. “I was not in favor (of him playing Wednesday). I was very happy we decided what we decided. I was very uncomfortable with it. He really wanted to push and that’s who Giannis is. I was very happy with our medical team today. They decided at the end of the day, let’s wait. … We just thought it was the right thing to do. We gotta protect him sometimes.”
We have more injury updates from around the NBA:
- As expected, Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis is questionable for Friday’s matchup at the Lakers, as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays (via Twitter). The star big man has missed the past 14 games with a left calf strain. Davis, who practiced on Wednesday, said it was “surprising” and “definitely tough” to see former head of basketball operations Nico Harrison get fired, but downplayed the trade chatter surrounding him in the wake of Harrison’s dismissal. “This is basketball,” Davis said, per Christian Clark of The Athletic. “This is what comes with it. I think everybody in their career has been involved in trade talks. Been traded. Or some type of move. That doesn’t affect me. I’ve been in trade talks for a while. My job is to do what I do on the floor. Play basketball. Try to lead this team. I do have an open line of communication with the front office. I’m just ready to get back on the floor.”
- The Bulls have a lengthy injury report ahead of Friday’s contest in Charlotte, notes Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kevin Huerter (left pelvic contusion), Dalen Terry (left calf strain), Nikola Vucevic (right patellofemoral syndrome), Coby White (right calf strain injury management), and Patrick Williams (left wrist sprain) are all questionable, while Isaac Okoro is doubtful to suit up because of left lumbar radiculopathy.
- In addition to Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford, who are sidelined with knee and adductor injuries, respectively, Sixers center Joel Embiid has been ruled out of his ninth consecutive game on Friday against Brooklyn due to right knee injury management (Twitter link via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer). Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness) is also out for the third straight game, while forward Paul George is questionable with a right ankle sprain. George was inactive for Tuesday’s 41-point loss to Orlando, though he did practice on Wednesday.
How long until the nba reduces the 60 game (stupid) rule
Hopefully soon, it hasn’t helped.
Not only the 82 such a large number, also the number of back-to-back games which are so crucial and detrimental especially to nba teams who have older players.
Really ….. then don’t have older players.
Why do you think teams have a 15 man roster. Maybe learn to use it.
If you miss 9 games, … it’s not and “injury management“. It’s an injury.
The Embiid situation is absolutely tragic. He seems like the most uncommitted player in any aspect of the game, uncommitted to rehab, uncommitted to playing, uncommitted to practice… committed only to that $300M
He is…injured. It’s not that deep.
He’s soft. It’s THAT simple.
His conditioning has always been poor. His game and talent are unquestionable. His effort in all aspects of being a professional athlete has always been very poor. Particularly conditioning. The leaked story about him being late to practices and teammates calling him out on it, was revealing, so was his reaction to it. He never owned that, but instead pointed fingers at whoever leaked the story.
That garbage is what destroys a team.
Easy fix, The NBA should should go to 60 games. Or make salaries have not guaranteed contracts like the NFL. You can not operate like the old days. Players had pride and played for the love of the game. Gen-z is playing for the money. Doesn’t matter if you’re a lawyer work at Amazon garbage truck man, a nurse or a doctor. If you do what you do just for money you will not have any passion or desire to do what you do. I get it. We all work for money. However, you have to have some type of love and passion and I think gen Z is missing out on that. What the philosophy do the least to get the most amount of money? That’s just not how the world operated and you can’t be successful in life with that attitude.
Highly disappointed in Joel embiid and the 76er organization. They do not play meaning full games. Watched both players play against (non play off team) then when a good team comes or a matchup come they are sitting. People wonder why the players get hurt. It’s because if you have a Bugatti or a Ferrari you can’t drive it once every 6 months and then when a race comes expect to but the car on the track. Players have a more advanced science, custom shoes, multiple trainers, massages, people to stretch you charter flights chefs after games and before games. Big Time practice facilities yet they continue to get injured at a higher rate than players back in the day with none of that. Make it make sense