Giannis Antetokounmpo Rumors

Heat Notes: Jaquez, Larsson, Adebayo, Herro

January 3rd, 2026 at 5:55pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jaime Jaquez Jr. has become one of the NBA’s top reserves in his third season, and his Heat teammates view him as a legitimate contender for Sixth Man of the Year honors, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald writes in a subscriber-only story. Jaquez, who has started just once in his 33 appearances this season, leads the league with 530 points off the bench and is at or near the top in several other categories.

“He definitely should be in the category for Sixth Man of the Year,” Norman Powell said. “He’s been doing a great job all year in putting his imprint on the game and helping us win close games or helping us open up some games with his play style and the force of his downhill attacks that he comes with every single night.”

Jaquez was a member of the All-Rookie Team in 2024, but he suffered through a disappointing second season and was eventually pulled from the rotation. He acknowledges that it took a lot of “hard work” to bring his game back up to the standards of his first year.

“You realize how much you love basketball, how much fun it is to play every single night,” Jaquez said. “It’s really just having fun out there. It’s not fun not playing. Everybody wants to get on the court, so I’m just appreciating how fun the sport is.”

There’s more from Miami:

Pelle Larsson is missing his second straight game tonight with a sprained right ankle, Chiang adds. Larsson had been listed as questionable, but he was downgraded to out shortly before game time.
The Heat have received trade inquiries about Bam Adebayo, but are refusing to consider parting with their star big man, according to NBA analyst Zach Lowe (Twitter video link). “Would they ever include Bam in a package to clear their books and pivot to a younger direction? Other teams I know have for sure asked about Bam and have been told ‘Hell no,’” Lowe said. “As they sniff around at Giannis (Antetokounmpo) and other star players, all of those star players want to play with Bam. I do think the Heat will more than sniff around with Giannis situation.”
With the Heat hoping to have Tyler Herro return soon from a toe contusion, Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel (subscription required) talked about the difficulty of reintroducing a dominant scorer with Hawks coach Quin Snyder, who has been going through the same experience with Trae Young. “A process, that’s what it is,” Snyder said. “And it’s a long runway. Everybody is not going to be acclimated to one another like immediately. … It’s minor adjustments for a lot of guys. And there’s a critical mass of things that you’re going through. You just keep working at it.”

Windhorst/Bontemps’ Latest: Giannis, Trade Deadline, LeBron, More

January 2nd, 2026 at 9:13am CST by Luke Adams

A number of league insiders who spoke to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps about what will happen in the NBA in 2026 believe that this will be the year the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga in Milwaukee reaches an inflection point, according to Bontemps.

“The rubber is going to finally hit the road, one way or the other,” one Western Conference executive said.

However, several of those sources believe the situation will carry over into the offseason, with one Eastern Conference scout suggesting that the Bucks star would have “maximum leverage” if he waits until the summer to request a trade.

“They aren’t trading him in-season,” a Western scout predicted.

In fact, many of the executives surveyed by Bontemps are anticipating a relatively quiet trade deadline, with resolutions on players like Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Zach LaVine, and Trae Young potentially not coming until June or July (or later). One Eastern Conference exec suggested that a “crazy summer” could be on tap if February’s deadline ends up being somewhat uneventful.

“All these guys are going to be stuck where they are (at the trade deadline),” another Western Conference exec said. “I don’t think it will be as busy as people think, and I don’t think the available players will be that good.”

Here’s more from Windhorst and Bontemps:

According to Windhorst, league executives believe there will be three paths available to LeBron James after this season: Re-sign with the Lakers at a reduced salary, join another team in free agency, or retire. In other words, they don’t expect Los Angeles to continue paying the four-time MVP maximum or near-max money. While James is no longer performing at his peak level, he would continue to be a coveted player if he decides not to retire, one head coach said: “LeBron is still averaging 20 points and shooting 50%. You just have to find the right situation.”
The NBA is reportedly weighing rule changes to further disincentivize tanking, and ESPN’s sources expect the outcry for changes to grow as the season progresses, Windhorst writes. “This is only going to get louder,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “By the spring, I think one out of every three games we’re going to play is going to be against a team that’s tanking.”
While commissioner Adam Silver has said the NBA will make a decision on expansion in 2026, stakeholders who have been working with the league on possible domestic expansion and a new European league are skeptical that the NBA would be able to move forward on both endeavors simultaneously, says Windhorst. The NBA reportedly hopes to launch its European league in the fall of 2027, so perhaps the NBA would aim to expand a year or two after that.

Giannis: Bucks Entering ‘Make Or Break’ Portion Of The Season

January 1st, 2026 at 3:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

For the Bucks to achieve their dual goals of reaching the playoffs and keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo happy enough to avoid a trade demand, they can’t afford many more losses like the one they had Wednesday night against Washington. As Eric Nehm of The Athletic details, Milwaukee couldn’t hold on to a three-point lead with 33.2 seconds remaining as CJ McCollum hit two late shots and Antetokounmpo’s last-second attempt bounced off the back of the rim.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said his team didn’t deserve to come away with a victory over the Wizards, who now have two of their eight wins against Milwaukee. He cited a lack of sustained effort by his players and a reluctance to share the ball.

“We had a lead. We had every shot we wanted at the end of the game,” Rivers said. “Our execution was flawless, even the last play. But the basketball gods sometimes don’t allow you to win when you don’t play right, and we’ve been great the last two games, and tonight, we didn’t pass the ball. We didn’t pass the ball to each other, and we didn’t guard the ball. And so when you play like that, you lose the game.”

Antetokounmpo told reporters Wednesday night that his conditioning and rhythm still aren’t where he wants them to be after missing eight games with a strained right calf. He remains on a minutes restriction but led the team with 33 points and 15 rebounds against Washington while playing 28 minutes.

Antetokounmpo added a comment indicating that he believes all his teammates may not share a similar commitment to winning.

“Sometimes, it’s just hard when maybe some people are trying to do the right thing, and other people are not trying to do the plays. It might be discouraging at times,” he said. “I’ve been a part of teams, the really good teams, that two, three, four guys try to do the right thing, and they do it, I think, and they pull everybody else. And I’ve been on teams that two, three guys try to do the right thing, and three, four guys not trying to do the right thing, and it pulls the team to the wrong direction.”

At 14-20, the Bucks start the new year in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. They’re just one-and-a-half games behind Atlanta and two-and-a-half games back of Chicago, so a spot in the play-in tournament remains within reach. However, they would need an incredible second half of the season to rise any higher than ninth place.

Nehm points out that a very challenging part of the schedule is about to begin. After hosting Charlotte on Friday, Milwaukee departs on a four-game Western swing to face the Kings, Warriors, Lakers and Nuggets. Eight of the team’s 13 January games are on the road, so the Bucks could be in a much different position when the February 5 trade deadline arrives.

“We’re 11th in the East,” Antetokounmpo said. “My whole career, when I’ve had winning seasons, like January to February before the break, you gotta stack up wins, and we have a tough schedule. I don’t think people understand this can make us or break us. And I don’t want to break. I want to be made.”

Central Notes: Giannis, Sheppard, Pacers, Potter, Ball, Porter

December 30th, 2025 at 8:01am CST by Luke Adams

Given that the Bucks hope to operate as buyers at the trade deadline and make a second-half push into the postseason, teams around the league inquiring about star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo are being rebuffed, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirmed during a recent appearance on Sportsnet (Twitter video link).

“I’ve spoken to plenty of GMs that would love to have Giannis and have tried to talk to Bucks GM Jon Horst about acquiring him,” Scotto said. “And quite frankly, he’s not going anywhere, they’ve been telling me. The Bucks have been steadfast that he’s not going anywhere.”

Antetokounmpo reportedly entertained the idea of a change of scenery during the offseason, prompting the Bucks to briefly explore the possibility of a trade with the Knicks, but the two teams gained no traction in those discussions. If Milwaukee keeps losing and Giannis decides he wants to be moved, it will require a “more forceful” request from the two-time MVP, according to Jamal Collier and Shams Charania of ESPN, since the team won’t be looking to proactively deal him.

“The question is who is going to get made uncomfortable,” one league source told ESPN. “There’s a difference between saying it out loud and innuendos. [The Bucks] know Giannis doesn’t want to be the villain.”

We have more from news and notes from around the Central:

Pacers guard Ben Sheppard missed an 11th consecutive game on Monday due to a left calf strain, but he was upgraded to questionable before being ruled out, notes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star, which suggests his return may be imminent. Indiana has been banged up all season but got Aaron Nesmith back from a knee injury over the weekend and appears on the verge of having Sheppard back in the rotation too.
The Pacers remain shorthanded in the frontcourt while Isaiah Jackson recovers from a concussion, which is what prompted the team to add free agent center Micah Potter last week. However, as Tony East writes for Circle City Spin, Potter’s stint with the team may be short-lived, since Indiana will have to waive him on or before next Wednesday in order to avoid guaranteeing his full salary.
Veteran point guard Lonzo Ball was a DNP-CD on Monday as the Cavaliers picked up an impressive win in San Antonio, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). “We wanted to look at some different combinations, but also with Zo, I have a big picture thing of just keeping him healthy and fresh,” head coach Kenny Atkinson explained after the game. “It was kind of twofold for tonight. I spoke to him. We need him healthy and available. He has been so far. I want to keep that going. I know we don’t have back-to-backs, but we are playing every other day. At a certain point, I need to find him some games. I talked to him about it, and it just happened to fall on tonight.”
As Fedor observes, Craig Porter Jr. played well as the Cavaliers‘ backup point guard in place of Ball, registering six rebounds and four assists in 15 minutes in the victory over San Antonio. Cleveland outscored the Spurs by 12 points during Porter’s time on the floor, which matched the team’s margin of victory in the 113-101 decision.

Doncic, Antetokounmpo Lead Early Fan Voting For All-Star Game

December 29th, 2025 at 12:20pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, in the first returns of fan voting for the All-Star Game, according to the NBA (Twitter link).

Doncic leads all players with 1,249,518 votes. The top five vote-getters from the Western Conference also include Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama.

Joining Antetokounmpo among the top five in the Eastern Conference are Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.

Fans voting represents 50% of the vote to determine the five players from each conference to be named as starters for the All-Star Game, with current NBA players and a media panel accounting for 25% each. This year, All-Stars are being selected without regard to position.

A newly-created, round-robin tournament featuring a USA vs. World format will be held Sunday, Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Clippers.

Bucks Operating As Buyers Heading Into Trade Deadline

December 29th, 2025 at 10:01am CST by Arthur Hill

Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s windmill dunk that ended Saturday’s win at Chicago delivered the message he intended, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN. Antetokounmpo nearly sparked a massive fight as he broke an unwritten rule by scoring with the game already out of reach, but he saw a chance to make a statement — to his teammates and the rest of the league — that the Bucks aren’t going to go away quietly.

“I’ve been 13 years in the league,” Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. “If we keep on losing, brother, probably half of the team is not going to be here. At the end of the day, I just want to be available, be healthy and help my team win. And if (a windmill dunk) is what has to happen for everybody to wake up and understand we’re fighting for our lives and we got to get our hands dirty, so be it.”

The dunk sparked a show of support, as Antetokounmpo’s teammates backed up his actions amid angry exchanges that continued while the teams made their way toward the locker room area. Whether it leads to a prolonged turnaround will depend on a number of factors, including Antetokounmpo’s health for the rest of the season and his continued desire to stay in Milwaukee.

At 13-19, the Bucks are 11th in the East, one-and-a-half games out of a play-in spot. Team sources tell Collier they continue to believe they can upgrade the roster before the February 5 trade deadline and be more competitive in the second half of the season. Collier hears that when the league’s unofficial trade season began two weeks ago, the Bucks’ front office approached it as buyers rather than exploring potential deals to part with Antetokounmpo.

The two-time MVP has been the subject of frequent trade speculation, even as he remains one of the NBA’s elite talents. He has often stated his desire to compete for another title, which may not happen with a Milwaukee team that hasn’t won a playoff series since 2022. Antetokounmpo has tried to quell trade talks, recently stating that he’s “locked in” with the team, and he reiterated that sentiment on Saturday.

“I’m here. I’m here. I’m here,” he said. “Don’t ask me that question. I’m here. It’s disrespectful towards myself and my teammates. I wear that jersey every single day. It’s disrespectful towards the organization, my coaching staff, myself and all the people that work hard for me to come out here and say, ‘I don’t want to be here.’ I’m here. I’m putting on the jersey. And as long as I’m here, I’m going to give everything I have, even in the last second of the game.”

Sources tell Collier that the Bucks have engaged in internal conversations about pursuing Kings guards Zach LaVine and Malik Monk as well as Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant. However, Collier notes that general manager Jon Horst has limited assets to offer on the trade market.

[RELATED: Bucks Keeping Eye On Zach LaVine]

Milwaukee currently has only one tradable first-round pick, either in 2031 or 2032, but Collier states that Horst hasn’t been willing to part with that pick in any trade talks during the past year. League sources don’t expect him to consider moving it at this point unless it means getting a star-level player in return, Collier adds.

Collier notes that the rest of the roster outside of Antetokounmpo doesn’t offer much trade value. Other than Myles Turner, who signed as a free agent during the summer, the largest salaries belong to Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM) and Bobby Portis ($13.5MM), making it challenging to match money in a significant trade. According to Collier, rival executives may be putting other moves on hold until they have some clarity about how long Antetokounmpo will be staying in Milwaukee.

Collier adds that the Bucks’ assets will improve during the offseason, when they project to have tradable picks available in 2026, 2031 and 2033. But waiting until summer to improve the roster could mean wasting another prime season for Antetokounmpo and testing his desire to remain with a franchise that could miss the postseason.

“Right now, our character (as a team) is being tested,” Antetokounmpo said. “Me personally, I don’t want to be the guy worrying about (reports). My legacy is on the line. This is how I feel every single day when I walk in here.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo Expected To Play on Saturday

December 27th, 2025 at 7:55am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Bucks are likely to have their superstar back on the court on Saturday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to suit up for Milwaukee’s game against the Bulls, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm reports. Antetokounmpo, who has been sidelined eight games due to a right calf strain, will still need to clear the pregame tests required by the Bucks’ training staff to gain final clearance. Antetokounmpo has been steadily increasing his activity in recent weeks, including a full-contact three-on-three scrimmage following a pregame shootaround on Tuesday.

The two-time MVP has been sidelined since suffering the injury in the opening quarter against the Pistons on Dec. 3. Milwaukee managed to win that game without him but have since posted a 2-6 record. The Bucks’ offense has stalled without Antetokounmpo’s all-around contributions — they’ve scored 105 or fewer points in five of those losses.

The Bucks have a 12-19 overall record, leaving them in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. It’s mainly due to the absences of Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 29.1 minutes per game while shooting a career-high 63.9% from the field. He also missed some time due to a left adductor strain. The Bucks are 10-7 this season in games he’s played.

While on the mend, Antetokounmpo tried to downplay the usual rumors regarding his future by declaring that he’s “locked in” to playing with the team that drafted him in 2013.

“I’m still locked in, locked in on my teammates. Most importantly, locked in on me getting back healthy,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “And then, locked in on my teammates and how can I help them from the sideline or encourage them to be able to play and play free? Because at the end of the day, it takes a toll on them, too, right? They’re playing game after game after game. Thank God we’ve had a very good schedule in the last couple of weeks, but it takes a toll on them, too — rumors, injuries, lose, win. It’s hard, right? As a leader, but most importantly as a winner, you just gotta be there for them first.”

Injury Notes: Warriors, Antetokounmpo, Suggs, Flagg, Lively

December 21st, 2025 at 10:03pm CST by Eli Cohen

Jonathan Kuminga is expected to be available on Monday after missing the Warriors‘ win over the Suns on Saturdaydue to an illness, reports The Athletic’s Nick Friedell (Twitter link).

Friedell notes that Kuminga was at Golden State’s film session on Sunday. The 23-year-old forward has only played in one of the Warriors’ previous five games, as he has been in and out of coach Steve Kerr‘s rotation even when he’s active.

Friedell adds that Al Horford and Seth Curry are still out with back and glute injuries, respectively.

Horford has only played 13 games this season, his first with Golden State, and has suited up for two of the team’s last 13 contests. He’s averaging career lows in points and rebounds.

Curry has played just two games since joining the Warriors on December 1. He scored 14 points in just under 18 minutes in his season debut, but was held scoreless in his second outing.

We have more injury news from around the league:

Giannis Antetokounmpo remains out with the calf strain that has kept him sidelined since early December, but he participated in the Bucks‘ shootaround before Sunday’s contest against the Timberwolves, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter video link). Head coach Doc Rivers previously stated that the team would be cautious with their star forward’s recovery process, but this marked a step in the right direction for the two-time MVP.
Jalen Suggs is listed as questionable for the Magic‘s game against the Warriors on Monday due to a left hip contusion, notes Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter). Suggs has missed the team’s last two games due to the injury. Beede adds that Tristan Da Silva is questionable with a shoulder contusion.
Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg is questionable for Monday’s game against the Pelicans with a back contusion, writes Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). The No. 1 overall pick has been on a hot streak of late, averaging 27.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks over his last four games. Curtis adds that Klay Thompson (left knee soreness), Max Christie (illness), and two-way players Moussa Cisse and Miles Kelly are all questionable for the game as well.
Dereck Lively II underwent successful surgery on his right foot, the Mavericks announced via their team Twitter account. It was reported on December 10 that Lively would undergo season-ending surgery to address ongoing discomfort in the foot. The operation was performed in London.

Trade Rumors: Castle, Suns, Raptors, Davis, Kings

December 19th, 2025 at 12:19pm CST by Luke Adams

There’s reportedly a sense that the Spurs won’t seriously pursue a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade even if the Bucks make the two-time MVP available this season. While San Antonio seemingly has the assets necessary to make a compelling offer for a star-level trade candidate like Antetokounmpo, the team is very high on its young core and isn’t eager to break it up to go all-in on an older player, writes Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.

Victor Wembanyama is obviously untouchable and reports have indicated that the Spurs have never shown any interest in moving rookie Dylan Harper, dating back to lottery night when they won the No. 2 overall pick and the right to draft him. The team’s unwillingness to discuss trades involving its rising young stars also extends to reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said this week during an appearance on The Ryen Russillo Show (YouTube link).

“I cannot tell you how much the Spurs loved Castle when they got him,” Windhorst said (hat tip to HoopsHype). “Like, right out of the gate they were like, ‘Oh my god, do we love this guy.’ They are convinced that he is the perfect guy to have with Victor. … They love everything about his make-up. They love everything about the way he competes. They love everything about his willingness to improve. They love Stephon Castle.”

While Windhorst acknowledged that very few players in the NBA are absolutely untouchable, he stressed that the Spurs are extremely unlikely to move Castle anytime soon.

“I would be stunned if they gave Castle away for almost anything,” he said.

Here are a few more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:

Gerald Bourguet of Suns After Dark confirms that the Suns and Raptors spoke about a possible trade that would send Nick Richards to Toronto in exchange for Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick, but says Phoenix isn’t looking to make a deal quite yet, doesn’t have a ton of interest in Agbaji, and didn’t love the quality of the second-rounder the Raptors were willing to offer. While it’s unclear which pick Toronto put on the table, neither of the 2026 second-rounders the team controls would be very valuable if the season ended today — the Raptors’ own pick would be No. 52, while the Lakers’ second-rounder Toronto owns would be in the 56-58 range.
Mavericks big man Anthony Davis sits atop the trade deadline “big board” published today by Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, who ranks potential trade candidates based on a combination of their potential impact and their likelihood of being moved. If Antetokounmpo doesn’t get traded this season, Davis is considered the one player on the market who could “swing the title race the most if he were dealt to the right situation,” Vecenie writes.
Earlier this week, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link) published the first installment of his comprehensive guide to the 2026 NBA trade deadline, identifying possible trade candidates and potential goals for all 30 teams. For instance, in examining the Kings, Gozlan classifies Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder as likely to be traded, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, and DeMar DeRozan as “very possible” to be moved, and Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis as more likely to stay put due to their sizable contracts.

Giannis Downplays Trade Talk, Claims He’s ‘Locked In’ With Bucks

December 18th, 2025 at 10:44pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Giannis Antetokounmpo distanced himself on Thursday from a report earlier this month that he and his agent Alex Saratsis have held discussions with the Bucks regarding his future.

“If my agent is talking to the Bucks about it, he is his own person,” Antetokounmpo said, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “He can have any conversation he wants about it. At the end of the day, I don’t work for my agent; my agent works for me. And there’s going to be conversations that are going to be made between him and the Bucks, and him and his other players, and him and other teams and other GMs, executives around the league. It’s something that you can’t control. But at the end of the day, I personally have not had the conversation with the Bucks.”

Antetokounmpo held court with the media for the first time since he suffered a calf strain on December 3 that knocked him out of action. The superstar forward said he remains focused on maximizing the potential of his current team.

“I’m still locked in, locked in on my teammates. Most importantly, locked in on me getting back healthy,” Antetokounmpo said. “And then, locked in on my teammates and how can I help them from the sideline or encourage them to be able to play and play free? Because at the end of the day, it takes a toll on them, too, right? They’re playing game after game after game. Thank God we’ve had a very good schedule in the last couple of weeks, but it takes a toll on them, too — rumors, injuries, lose, win. It’s hard, right? As a leader, but most importantly as a winner, you just gotta be there for them first.”

Antetokounmpo recognizes that the trade rumors aren’t going to die down unless the Bucks go on a hot streak.

“Do I hope it ends? For sure. Do I think it’s going to end? No,” he said. “I think when people see cracks, they see opportunity to get in through those cracks. And I understand it. It’s part of the game. It’s part of winning. You’ve gotta make the right moves to create the best chance for your organization to compete and win a championship. So, I get it.

“If I was on the other side and I was an executive, I would probably do the same thing. Eventually, you’re going to break. We’re going to keep on calling you, and if the team is not doing well or is not performing in the standings the way you guys think it should, we’re going to keep on calling until you say, ‘OK, let’s get it done.’ That’s how it works in business.”

Milwaukee is currently floundering near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with an 11-17 record. While he waits to get healthy enough to play again, he has tried to encourage his teammates and make sure they’re playing with a sense of urgency.

“You just gotta give urgency to the team. Like, ‘Guys, this is serious,’” Antetokounmpo said. “Who are we trying to be? We gotta turn this around. We have time to turn this around. And you gotta have a little bit more urgency. I think I’ve had the conversation with the coach about it; I think I’ve had the conversation with individual players about it. I’ve been approached by teammates and asked about the rumors because it also may affect their own life and their own career. I’m straight with them, whatever that answer might be.”

As for his soleus (calf) strain, Antetokounmpo believes it was related to a previous injury — he had a left adductor strain earlier in the season. He doesn’t want to make the same mistake regarding his latest ailment. Reporting at the time of the calf injury suggested a recovery timeline of two-to-four weeks, though it doesn’t appear he’s close to returning.

“As a leader of this team, when we are competing and you feel like maybe you’re not out there to help your team and not giving your team the best chance, you kind of feel like sometimes it’s your fault,” Antetokounmpo said. “And instead of taking the time — the appropriate time — for you to get back, you kind of rush things, which that’s what I’ve done my whole career, just to be out there. So, maybe it was a mistake of me coming back a little bit earlier. … The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of (work) load or play a lot of games in a short period of time.”