Giannis Sidelined After Calf Strain
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t a doctor, but he stepped into that role in the Milwaukee Bucks locker room after leaving last Friday’s game with a calf injury. Antetokounmpo said the sensation felt like his previous calf strains, and while he planned to get an MRI, he expected to be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks.
The MRI confirmed the calf strain, but the Bucks haven’t provided a concrete return timeline.
“There’s really no timetable,” coach Doc Rivers said, via the Associated Press.
That comment sparked speculation that the Bucks might consider shutting Antetokounmpo down for the season to improve their lottery positioning, potentially turning the pick into a trade asset to acquire talent around him. Rivers, however, mostly dismissed that notion.
“There’s no thought to that,” Rivers said. “But listen, there’s no timetable either.”
The lack of a defined timeline is concerning for a Bucks team trying to make a push in the Eastern Conference, especially since they are 3-11 in games Antetokounmpo has missed this season. If his 4-to-6-week estimate holds, he would be sidelined at least through the All-Star break.
That means Antetokounmpo, who was voted an All-Star starter by the fans, will miss the game in Los Angeles and a significant portion of the season, making him ineligible for postseason awards like MVP or All-NBA. He will also be unavailable past the trade deadline, quashing any chance of a pre-February 5 trade (the Bucks haven’t put him on the market at any point).
Looking Ahead: Bucks’ Summer Decisions
Looking ahead to the summer, Milwaukee has several options. They could leverage their draft pick next June (they’ll hold the second-best between their own or New Orleans’, with Atlanta taking the top pick and the Pelicans receiving the Hawks’ pick), future draft selections, current roster players, and a mid-level exception to acquire additional talent around Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks can present this revamped team vision alongside a max contract extension, leaving it up to Giannis whether to sign and stay or decline, which could force a trade or risk losing him in free agency in 2027. The pressing question remains: will we see Giannis back on the court for the Bucks before this summer?
