MILWAUKEE — After a full day of commerce rumors, there are extra rapid considerations about the way forward for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo after he collapsed with a non-contact harm minutes into the staff’s 113-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night time. The Bucks introduced that Antetokounmpo suffered a proper calf pressure and he didn’t return to the sport.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers didn’t have an replace on Antetokounmpo’s standing after the sport, however did say that he thinks the medical employees has “dominated out” an Achilles harm.
“He is doing an MRI proper now, so we’ll know extra hopefully by the top of [Wednesday night],” Rivers mentioned. “I did not know what it was. I simply needed the trainers to are likely to him. Proper after they introduced him in they took him to the hospital.”
Slightly below three minutes into the primary quarter, Antetokounmpo drove alongside the baseline and located a chopping AJ Inexperienced for a straightforward layup. As he turned to run again up the ground, he all of a sudden fell and instantly motioned to the bench for assist. He remained seated on the ground till Kevin Porter Jr. took a foul to cease play.
Antetokounmpo was then helped to his ft and was capable of stroll off the court docket beneath his personal energy. He initially took a seat on the bench, however later made his technique to the locker room. Footage from the Bucks’ broadcast confirmed him strolling by means of the tunnel on his personal, however shifting very slowly.
Bobby Portis instructed reporters that Antetokounmpo was maintaining with the motion from the hospital and reached out to his teammates instantly after the ultimate buzzer.
“What’s so loopy is Giannis was the primary individual that texted within the staff group message: ‘Good job fellas, technique to get one.’ I have not talked to him personally, however within the group message, yeah,” Portis mentioned. “He was the primary one to textual content congratulating us on the win. Hopefully he is feeling higher, feeling properly. Have not seen the video but both so do not know what it seemed like or how unhealthy it was. Praying for him, all the time in prayers and hopefully the whole lot is OK.”
It is too early to say how lengthy Antetokounmpo could also be sidelined, however his preliminary response was regarding. He might want to endure imaging to totally assess the harm and set up a timeline. Regardless, it is a main blow for a Bucks staff that, regardless of their shock win Wednesday, continues to be solely 2-5 with out their two-time MVP this season and has sunk to tenth place within the Jap Convention at 10-13.
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Antetokounmpo missed almost two weeks earlier this season with a left groin pressure. He does have a earlier historical past of calf points. In 2024, he strained the soleus muscle in his left calf simply earlier than the top of the common season and missed the staff’s complete first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Indiana Pacers, which they misplaced in six video games. Final season, he sat out the All-Star Sport and missed almost three weeks with a left calf pressure.
Coming into Wednesday, Antetokounmpo was averaging 30.6 factors, 10.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists on 63.9% capturing. He was fourth within the league in scoring, fifth in rebounds and seventh in subject objective share, and was on tempo to common 30/10/5 for the fourth consecutive season (each different participant in NBA historical past mixed has eight such seasons).
Antetokounmpo was properly on his technique to a tenth consecutive All-Star look and eighth consecutive All-NBA First Staff honor. A prolonged absence may put each of these streaks in jeopardy. With the league’s new 65-game threshold for main awards, Antetokounmpo could be ineligible for honors comparable to MVP, Defensive Participant of the Yr and All-NBA if he misses 12 extra video games.
Previous to Wednesday’s recreation, ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo and his agent are within the strategy of discussing his future with the Bucks. A decision was reportedly anticipated within the coming weeks, however this harm might disrupt any potential commerce talks.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers refuted the concept Antetokounmpo has requested out of Milwaukee.
“Giannis has by no means requested to be traded. Ever. I am unable to make that extra clear,” Rivers mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s recreation.
“The factor I preserve saying is I’m going to the supply. I speak to the supply each single day. Each single day. He loves Milwaukee and he loves the Bucks,” Rivers continued. “I’ve heard guys say they’ve talked to sources. I talked to the supply. If I’ve realized something in life, the supply often is aware of.”
