Giannis Antetokounmpo anticipates being sidelined for roughly four to six weeks after hurting his right calf during the Milwaukee Bucks’ 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
The two-time MVP said he will undergo an MRI on Saturday, adding that experience tells him he “probably” tore something in the calf or soleus muscle and will receive a recovery plan that could keep him out until late February or early March.
Antetokounmpo first felt pain early in the game, left for the locker room, then returned with his calf wrapped. He stayed on the floor for 32 minutes and finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists before head coach Doc Rivers removed him in the final minute after he was seen limping past mid-court.
Rivers told reporters he asked Milwaukee’s medical staff “five different times” whether the star forward could continue and was repeatedly assured he could. Antetokounmpo said his competitive drive made him push through the discomfort until he could “not move no more.”
The injury represents another setback for a Bucks team that sits 18-26 and 11th in the Eastern Conference, potentially affecting the front office’s approach to the upcoming trade deadline.
Speculation around Antetokounmpo’s long-term future has persisted, with several rival clubs reportedly holding major assets in case he hits the trade market. The 29-year-old has publicly stated he has no intention of requesting a move, and Milwaukee has given no signal it would shop him.
The Bucks struggled without Antetokounmpo earlier this season, posting a 3-11 record during the 14 games he missed because of a left adductor strain and a right soleus strain.
Rivers acknowledged concern over the recurring calf issues, calling the situation “troublesome for all of us.”
The projected timeline would keep Antetokounmpo out of next month’s All-Star Game, where he had been selected as a starter. Despite the setback, he vowed to “work my butt off” to return and help Milwaukee chase a postseason berth.
Source: Hoops Rumors
