Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss between four to six weeks due to a right calf injury sustained during Friday night’s narrow 102-100 defeat to the Denver Nuggets. Following the game, Antetokounmpo indicated that he would undergo an MRI on Saturday to assess the severity of the injury, which hampered his performance throughout the match.
The injury appeared to occur in the first quarter, prompting Antetokounmpo to head to the locker room briefly. He returned to the court with a wrap around his right calf but struggled to maintain his usual level of play. “I was feeling it for the majority of the game but did not want to stop playing,” he explained. Despite his determination, he ultimately had to exit the game as the pain became too intense.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers noted that he observed Antetokounmpo favoring his leg during the second half. “I asked our medical team five different times,” Rivers stated. “I didn’t like what my eyes were seeing, personally. Giannis was defiant about staying in.”
Antetokounmpo has a history of calf injuries, including a right soleus strain that sidelined him for three weeks in December. This recurring issue raises concerns for the Bucks, who are struggling in the standings. “This calf keeps coming up, and it’s concerning,” Rivers added. “I’m not a doctor, but I’m smart enough to know that his calf keeps bothering him and there’s something that is there.”
Despite the injury, Antetokounmpo managed to play for 32 minutes, contributing 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. The Bucks fought back from a 23-point deficit and closed the gap to just two points in the final minutes, but their comeback fell short as Antetokounmpo’s mobility waned.
“For me to stop playing and not be able to move? It was extremely painful,” Antetokounmpo remarked. “I was just trying to be out there, do whatever I could.” His commitment to the team exemplifies his leadership, as he attempted to impact the game through passing and rebounding despite the setback.
The potential loss of Antetokounmpo is a significant blow for Milwaukee, which has lost five of its last six games and sits at 18-26, currently in 11th place in the standings. They trail the Atlanta Hawks by two and a half games for the final play-in spot. The Bucks have a dismal record of 3-11 this season in games without their star player.
“I’m going to work my butt off to come back,” Antetokounmpo said. “That will probably be the end of February, beginning of March. Hopefully, the team will be in a place that we can at least make the play-in or the playoffs and just take it day by day, trying to get better.”
As Antetokounmpo prepares for recovery, the Bucks will need to rally and find ways to stay competitive in his absence.
