01/26/26 01:42:00
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01/26 13:41 CST Bucks have no timetable on when Giannis Antetokounmpo might
return from right calf strain
Bucks have no timetable on when Giannis Antetokounmpo might return from right
calf strain
By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) --- Giannis Antetokounmpo's potential return date remains
uncertain as the Milwaukee Bucks forward recovers from a calf strain that he
had predicted might keep him out for four to six weeks.
The two-time MVP also said after the Bucks' 102-100 loss to Denver on Friday
that an MRI would determine he had a calf or soleus strain in his right leg.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers confirmed the calf strain diagnosis Monday but didn't
speculate on when Antetokounmpo might return.
"There's really no timetable," Rivers said.
The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo had his right calf wrapped in the first half of
the game against Denver. He didn't appear comfortable the rest of the night and
left for good with 34 seconds remaining.
"I felt like I couldn't explode," Antetokounmpo said after the game. "I could
jog. I couldn't get on my toes, so I was kind of jogging on my heel the
majority of the game. I didn't have the same explosiveness, but I still felt
like I could help. At the end, when it popped, I had to get out. I couldn't
walk."
Antetokounmpo previously missed eight games from Dec. 5-26 with a right calf
strain. Strains to his left calf caused him to miss the 2024 playoffs and the
2025 All-Star Game.
Rivers said the Bucks haven't considered resting Antetokounmpo for the
remainder of the season despite his history of calf issues.
"There's no thought to that," Rivers said. "But listen, there's no timetable
either."
The Bucks had monitored Antetokounmpo's workload since his return. He played
fewer than 30 minutes in each of his first three games back and hadn't topped
33 minutes in any of his January games.
That didn't stop him from getting hurt again.
"He was frustrated with that because he's used to playing 35," Rivers said. "We
thought we handled that well. Maybe we'll go back down. Obviously it hurts our
team the minutes he's not on the floor, but we just need him to play, and we've
got to figure it out."
Antetokounmpo's injury means he won't be playing when the NBA trade deadline
arrives Feb. 5, which is noteworthy considering how much attention his future
in Milwaukee has received over the last several months. Antetokounmpo
repeatedly has said he's "locked in" with the Bucks but has left open the
possibility he could change his mind at some point.
The Bucks (18-26) have lost five of their last six games and are 11th in the
Eastern Conference standings, putting their streak of nine consecutive playoff
berths in serious jeopardy. They have gone 15-15 with Antetokounmpo and 3-11
without him this season.
Antetokounmpo acknowledged Friday he would have removed himself from that game
much earlier if the Bucks owned a significantly better record. He instead
played 32 minutes and had 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
"I just think it speaks volume to his character and who he is as a person and
player," Bucks forward Bobby Portis said.
Rivers said he noticed the calf issue seemed to bother Antetokounmpo during
Friday's game. Rivers said Antetokounmpo generally has been good about
notifying the team when the calf is hurting him too much.
"I asked our guys afterwards," Rivers said. "As I said, I was concerned at
halftime. He's been very honest. Most of the time, he's like, ?Hey, it's
hurting, but it's not bad.' That's what he's relaying to medical, and they have
to believe him. I think he's been pretty good overall. He takes himself out.
That's why they left him in, because he kept saying, ?I'm fine. I'm fine.'
Visually, I kept asking. I'm not involved in that decision-making part, but I
know what I see. I kept asking. That's a tough one."
Antetokounmpo has averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists over 30 games
this season.
The Bucks also have played their last two games without second-leading scorer
Kevin Porter Jr. because of an oblique strain. Rivers said there's no
indication yet when Porter might be available again.
Milwaukee will try to break out of its slump without its two leading scorers by
correcting the mistakes that were made the last time Antetokounmpo missed an
extended period of time.
"This is the first year this group has been together," Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma
said. "We've got 38 games to continue to get better as a unit and a group to
where, if he comes back, we have a chance, or we do some things that are
positive, a net positive for future endeavors."
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