Giannis Antetokounmpo Calf Injury Likely To Sideline Bucks For Weeks

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo faces an extended absence after a calf injury, with MRI expected and a four to six week return forecast.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo expects to miss several weeks after aggravating a right calf injury in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 102-100 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, raising serious doubts over Milwaukee’s push for a 10th straight playoff appearance as the team continues to struggle in the Eastern Conference standings.

Antetokounmpo had the lower leg wrapped during the first half and played through clear discomfort before finally leaving the court with 34 seconds left. "At the end, I could not move no more, so I had to stop playing," Antetokounmpo said, after finishing with 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

The two-time MVP said an MRI is planned for Saturday and expects familiar news after hurting the same calf last month. "After the MRI, they will

tell me probably I popped something in my calf, or in my soleus or something, probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks I’ll be out," Antetokounmpo said. "This is from my experience being around the NBA. After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back. That will probably be end of February, beginning of March. "

Bucks coach Doc Rivers shared a similar outlook, noting the repeated nature of the setback. "I don’t think it looks great, honestly," Rivers said. "This calf keeps coming up and its concerning. I’m not a doctor, but I’m smart enough to know that his calf keeps bothering him. There’s something that is there. It keeps happening. That’s troublesome for all of us. "

Milwaukee’s record without Antetokounmpo adds to the worry. The Bucks stand at 18-26, sit 11th in the Eastern Conference, and have dropped five of their last six games. They are 3-11 when Antetokounmpo does not play this season, underlining how much the team’s playoff chances rely on the availability of the franchise star.

Antetokounmpo first injured the right calf on Dec. 3, then returned on Dec. 27 under a minutes limit. This latest issue occurred despite that reduced workload. Antetokounmpo admitted that the Bucks’ uneven season influenced the decision to stay on court after feeling the problem, saying the situation would have been different if Milwaukee held a far stronger record.

The defeat to Denver highlighted that dilemma. Antetokounmpo stayed in the game to help a struggling team, yet now expects to be sidelined until late February or early March. With Milwaukee already outside the top eight and still chasing consistency, the franchise faces a challenging stretch while waiting for medical results and Antetokounmpo’s recovery.