MILWAUKEE — Following an eventful day of speculation regarding potential player movement, attention has shifted to the condition of Milwaukee Bucks standout Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had to leave the court due to an apparent injury sustained early in the team’s 113-109 victory against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday evening. The Bucks have reported that Antetokounmpo is experiencing discomfort in his right calf, leading to his departure from the contest.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers refrained from providing specific details about Antetokounmpo’s condition post-game but mentioned that the medical personnel have seemingly “excluded” the possibility of an Achilles-related issue.
“He is currently undergoing an MRI scan, and we anticipate receiving more comprehensive information by the conclusion of [Wednesday night],” Rivers stated. “Initially, I was unsure of the nature of the problem. My priority was to ensure that the trainers attended to him promptly. Upon bringing him in, they immediately escorted him to the medical facility.”
Approximately two minutes and forty seconds into the opening quarter, Antetokounmpo advanced along the baseline before delivering a pass to a cutting AJ Green, who executed an easy layup. As Antetokounmpo pivoted to resume his position on the court, he unexpectedly stumbled and immediately signaled to the bench for assistance. He remained in a seated position on the court until Kevin Porter Jr. committed a foul, bringing the play to a halt.
Subsequently, Antetokounmpo received assistance in standing and was able to exit the court without assistance. He initially took a spot on the bench but later proceeded to the locker room. Broadcast footage from the Bucks’ game showed him traversing the tunnel unaided but at a noticeably reduced pace.
Bobby Portis conveyed to reporters that Antetokounmpo was monitoring the game’s progress from the hospital and made contact with his teammates promptly after the game’s conclusion.
“Incredibly, Giannis was the first to communicate in the team’s group chat, saying: ‘Well done, guys, great job securing the win.’ I haven’t spoken with him personally, but he did send that message in the group chat,” Portis noted. “He was the first to send his congratulations to us following the win. Hopefully, he is improving and feeling well. I also haven’t had the opportunity to review the video, so I am uncertain about the severity of the injury. My thoughts are with him, and I am hopeful that everything is alright.”
It is premature to speculate on the potential duration of Antetokounmpo’s absence from play. However, his initial reaction raised some concerns. Additional evaluations will be necessary to fully assess the extent of the injury and to formulate a recovery timeline. Regardless, this constitutes a notable setback for the Bucks, who, despite their unexpected victory on Wednesday, have only managed a 2-5 record without their two-time MVP this season and have slipped to the tenth spot in the Eastern Conference with a 10-13 record.
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Earlier in the season, Antetokounmpo was sidelined for nearly a fortnight due to a strain in his left groin. He also has a documented history of prior calf issues. In 2024, he suffered a strain in the soleus muscle of his left calf towards the conclusion of the regular season, leading to his absence from the team’s entire first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, which the Pacers won in six games. Last season, he was unable to participate in the All-Star Game and was out for almost three weeks as a result of a left calf strain.
As of Wednesday’s game, Antetokounmpo was averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists while maintaining a shooting percentage of 63.9%. He held the fourth position in the league for scoring, fifth for rebounds, and seventh for field goal percentage and was on track to average 30/10/5 for the fourth consecutive season (among all other players in NBA history, there have been a combined total of eight such seasons).
Antetokounmpo was on a trajectory towards securing his tenth consecutive All-Star selection and eighth consecutive All-NBA First Team designation. A significant period of absence could jeopardize both of these streaks. With the league’s revised requirement of 65 games played to be considered for major awards, Antetokounmpo would be ineligible for awards such as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and All-NBA honors if he were to miss 12 additional games.
Leading up to Wednesday’s game, ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo and his representative are currently engaged in discussions regarding his future with the Bucks. A decision was reportedly anticipated in the upcoming weeks. However, this recent injury could potentially affect any potential discussions regarding player transfers.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers dismissed the suggestion that Antetokounmpo has sought to be traded from Milwaukee.
“Giannis has never requested a trade. Not at any point. I want to make that unequivocally clear,” Rivers emphasized before Wednesday’s game.
“The key point I emphasize is that I go directly to the definitive source. I engage with the definitive source on a daily basis. Every single day. He has a deep affection for Milwaukee and the Bucks,” Rivers added. “I have heard accounts from individuals who claim to have consulted their own sources. My information comes directly from the source. My experience has taught me that the source typically has the most accurate information.”
