MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has suffered a setback with a reinjury to his right calf, likely resulting in a lengthy absence following an earlier calf injury that already sidelined him for eight games this season.
The injury occurred during the first half of Milwaukee’s 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Antetokounmpo appeared uncomfortable throughout the game and eventually exited with just 34 seconds remaining.
“At the end, I simply couldn’t move anymore, so I had to stop playing,” Antetokounmpo explained.
The two-time MVP announced he would get an MRI on Saturday and expected the findings to be similar to those from his previous calf injury last month. “They’ll probably say I strained my calf or soleus again and that I’ll be out for four to six weeks,” he said. “That’s what I’ve learned from my NBA experience. After that, I’ll work hard to come back, which will likely be around late February or early March.”
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers shared a bleak outlook. “Honestly, it doesn’t look good,” he stated. “This ongoing calf issue is concerning. I’m not a doctor, but it keeps bothering him, and it’s worrisome for all of us.”
Antetokounmpo initially hurt his calf on December 3, returned on December 27, but has had limited playing time since. This latest injury severely threatens Milwaukee’s chances of making the playoffs for a 10th consecutive year, with the Bucks currently 18-26, sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference, and having lost five of their last six games.
The Bucks have struggled without Antetokounmpo, going just 3-11 in games he’s missed. Antetokounmpo noted that if the team had been performing better, he would have immediately left Friday’s game after feeling the injury. Instead, he remained on the court, finishing with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists.
“I don’t like quitting,” he said. “I lacked explosive power—I could jog but couldn’t get up on my toes, mostly jogging on my heels. I still felt I could contribute until the pain forced me out.”
Friday’s game also saw Denver’s Aaron Gordon leave early with a right hamstring strain. Gordon, who missed 19 games earlier this season due to a hamstring injury, scored 13 points in the first half but sat out the second. Nuggets coach David Adelman expressed cautious optimism about Gordon’s recovery after a stress test but acknowledged the unpredictability of such injuries.
The Nuggets are without several key players, including three-time MVP Nikola Jokic (left knee bone bruise), Cameron Johnson (right knee bone bruise), and Christian Braun (left ankle sprain). Additional absentees against the Bucks included Jamal Murray (right hamstring and left hip inflammation), Peyton Watson (left ankle sprain and right ankle strain), and Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain).
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Fan Take: Giannis’s injury is a major blow to the Bucks and NBA fans alike, highlighting how fragile even the best players’ health can be. This development not only threatens Milwaukee’s playoff hopes but also shifts the competitive landscape in the Eastern Conference, adding uncertainty to the title race.
