Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t a doctor, but he sounded like one after suffering a right calf injury in the Bucks’ 102-100 loss to the Nuggets on Friday. The Bucks superstar expects to sit out four-to-six weeks, according to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm and Jamal Collier of ESPN. He’ll undergo an MRI on Saturday to confirm the diagnosis.
“Probably the next steps will be, go to (an) MRI tomorrow. After the MRI, they’ll tell me, probably, I popped something in my calf, in my soleus, something. They’ll probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks that I’ll be out,” Antetokounmpo said. “This is from my experience being around the NBA.”
Antetokounmpo felt some pain during the first quarter and retreated to the locker room. He returned with a wrap around the calf and continued to play, logging 32 minutes and posting 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers took him out during the final minute after he pulled up lame, limped past half court and then grabbed at his right calf.
“I’ll say, I don’t (know) if this is smart or not smart, but I’ll just say my competitive spirit,” Antetokounmpo said of continuing to play after tweaking the calf in the first quarter. “Obviously, I was feeling it a majority of the game, but I did not want to stop playing. But at the end, I could not move no more, so I had to stop.”
Rivers asserted that his medical staff assured him throughout the game that Antetokounmpo was healthy enough to play.
“I asked our [medical] team five different times,” Rivers said. “I didn’t like what my eyes were seeing, personally. Giannis was defiant about staying in.”
This development is not only a severe blow to the Bucks’ chances of making the playoffs — they’re 18-26 and 11th in the Eastern Conference — but could also impact the front office’s trade deadline strategy.
The future of the Bucks’ star has been an endless source of speculation. As recently as Friday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the former Most Valuable Player’s frustration was at an all-time high due to the team’s poor record.
Several teams have reportedly been hanging onto their top trade assets in the hopes that Antetokounmpo will end up on the trade block, but the Bucks star has said on the record that he never intends to request a trade out of Milwaukee and there has been no indication the front office would proactively look to move him.
It’s also been reported that the Bucks were looking for ways to upgrade the roster in an attempt to appease Antetokoumnpo. That approach could change if their star won’t be able to take the court for an extended period.
Milwaukee went 3-11 in the 14 games Antetokounmpo missed with a left adductor strain and a right soleus strain earlier this season.
“This calf keeps coming up and it’s concerning,” Rivers said. “I’m not a doctor, but I’m smart enough to know that his calf keeps bothering him and there’s something that is there. It keeps happening, and that’s troublesome for all of us.”
The injury will likely force Giannis to miss next month’s All-Star Game. He was named an All-Star starter on Monday.
Antetokounmpo vowed to make a strong comeback, rather than sitting out the rest of the season.
“I’m going to work my butt off to come back,” he said. “That will probably be the end of February, beginning of March. Hopefully the team will be in a place that we can at least make the play-in or make the playoffs and just take it day by day, try to get better.”
Oh snap…things maybe getting real. If leaving, please go to San Antonio. Would be awesome to see two bigs patrol the rim and perimeter @ the same time.
This makes it LESS likely he’ll be traded.
KD was traded while hurt and he’s older.
Teams would still trade for Antetounmpo.
That would cost the spurs Vassell, Barnes, Sochan, and many picks to accommodate Devin’s awful contract.
I would be delighted to see Vassell and Sochan go, but very sad to give up Barnes, as it will leave us with only one pure shooter in Juuuuu.
Most importantly, Barnes’ professionalism and demeanor mean a lot to this team.
I just don’t think that Giannis will be very good for much longer. His play style doesn’t match his age.
Vassell has played really well this year. His defense has really improved. I really dont want to get rid of him. If they can get another big wing I’m all for it. I wouldn’t trade any of this core for at least two years.
Vassell Kelly O and Sochan qualify for salary
You could keep Barnes
He needs to chill out before his Achilles snaps.
If he needs to ice it then just stick his leg out the window. It’s minus 12 outside. Don’t worry, He’ll probably start the All Star game before packing it in for the season.
I’ve said this many times Giannis will not have a good into his career because of the way he’s plays. His play style is made for 20-year-olds and at the end of the day he’s always hurt and he has one conference appearance. Still a great player but to bet your farm on Giannis. If you don’t have another star or you have to give everything up, you’re not going to be in a position to win. This is when I talk about the grind of a regular season. His play style is not made for a whole grind of a season. You will be hurt year after year, especially into his thirties.
I remember somebody arguing me down saying that that it’s better than Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan on this site. Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett can take this Milwaukee team to the playoffs. The East is weak. Look at Jayden Brown. He pretty much has one or two decent players and is able to get win after one after win. Without a mid-range jumpshot and a post-op game, you can’t barrel everyone
Couldn’t agree more. And he already has a ton of mileage on those tires.
Just think of the type of player he’ll be, too, after he’s increasingly injury prone and athletic but not as physically dominant as he once was. He can’t shoot the three and is a not a good free throw shooter. The same logic will eventually apply to Zion (not that he’s half the dedicated player that Giannis is).
Given what it would cost to get him and the subsequent long-term contract he’ll need I’d only acquire him if my window was now and I was okay with the last few years potentially turning south.
This only makes good for one team and that’s the Knicks. And that’s Kat and whatever picks you can muster up. If you have to get rid of OG this team will go nowhere. If they can find a third team for hart, that makes sense. Miami doesn’t. I have no idea why people keep saying San Antonio that’s not happen. Wimby doesn’t want to play with Giannis that would diminish his legacy so there’s no point when you’re the up and coming guy
As a Spurs fan I can confidently say there’s a 0% chance of that happening. The team is in great position short, medium, and long-term given the current books and draft picks/swaps they have going out far. There’s no way they risk blowing that on an increasingly injury player in his early 30s who is heavily reliant on physicality and athleticism to dominate. It would be organizational malpractice.
If the Spurs make a big move, which is not even their MO to begin with, it will either be more than a year out or when the right opportunity comes along. This ain’t it.
AKA I don’t want to play for this team anymore
Nonsense, aka it’s a serious injury that’s been bothering him all season. Giannis is ultra competitive and would be out on the court if he could be.
Not to mention dude was playing in the Euro cup this summer… I hope he takes the time to heal properly.
You were saying? Lol
He already had one calf injury this year, so it’s hardly a surprise he’s picked up another one.
Milwaukee has to think long-term now. They know what they have in Giannis for the next few years.
that hurts his value. Bucks better trade him sooner than later. They also better trade their older players away too. They need to strat the rebuild.
It is time Bucks. Get some firsts and rebuild. Why the Bucjs hired Doc Rivers is beyond me. One championship and I could have coached that one.