Standing in front of his locker with the assembled media after the Milwaukee Bucks’ comeback attempt fell short in their 102-100 loss to the shorthanded Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed news that Bucks fans least wanted to hear: he had injured his calf again, and he would likely be out another 4-6 weeks:
So, the next steps will be to go to an MRI tomorrow (Saturday). After the MRI, they will probably tell me I popped something in my calf, in my soleus or something.
I’ll probably be out 4-6 weeks. This is from my experience being around in the NBA. After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back.
Giannis appeared to first show signs of injury in the first quarter and checked out of the game with 3:57 to go. He didn’t quite look the same after that, as he was limited to just 2/5 shooting (eight points) at halftime. Giannis ended up playing 16:37 in the second half, as the Bucks nearly mounted a 23-point comeback. Doc Rivers finally pulled Giannis with 34.2 seconds left after he couldn’t get back down the floor. Doc broke down what happened and how he saw Giannis playing through the injury:
I thought he was favoring it for most of the second half. I asked our team (medical staff) five different times. I didn’t like what my eyes were seeing, personally. Giannis was defiant about staying in. On that one play, seeing him try to run down the floor, to me, I’d had enough. I didn’t ask, I just took him out.
For those who haven’t seen it by now, here is the play in question:
What makes it sting more is that, when asked, Giannis answered in the affirmative that if the Bucks’ record was significantly better, he would’ve sat out the rest of the game. This injury comes at the worst possible time, with 12 days until the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5 and Bucks GM Jon Horst reportedly looking to add to this current team to get back into the playoff race. This injury could preclude the Bucks from making any significant additions at the deadline, and they could fully embrace the role of being sellers.
As for when he could come back, if this timeline holds up, he would return at the earliest on Feb. 25 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That would put him out for the next 13 games, which isn’t ideal for this Bucks team, who are 3-11 with Giannis out of the lineup. If the Bucks opt for a more cautious approach this time with Antetokounmpo’s second calf injury of the season, he would miss the next 21 games.
This injury will knock Giannis out of playing in the All-Star tournament in LA, meaning a replacement will have to be selected for his starting spot. Either scenario would put Giannis below the minimum games requirement of 65 to qualify for All-NBA teams, NBA MVP, and several other major awards. The two-time MVP was asked about ending his chances of making an All-NBA team for the 10th straight season:
It’s hard, what is it, 10 years in a row? Always in my mind, I think of the good things that have happened in my life and I think where I am at this moment and what my goals are and what stops me from my goals. The first thing you have to think about it can be worse, could be way worse, I could’ve been out for 12 months, 18 months. Being out for whatever it might be and not making All-NBA for sure it’s gonna be frustrating, but it doesn’t matter, that’s not where we are right now mentally as a team, as a player, I’m not there.
We’ll see what the MRI says and what the official timeline is when we learn the results. As for now, the Bucks will have to find a way to get some wins if they want to sniff a playoff spot. Otherwise, get ready to start scouting some draft prospects and firing up Tankathon, hoping the Bucks end up with a lottery selection. It’s been a long time since Bucks fans have been hoping the ping-pong balls fall their way, but that’s where they sit.
