PORTLAND, Ore. — Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said Wednesday that star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to recover from a left-knee injury but remains unable to play, missing his fifth straight game.
“He’s progressing,” Rivers told reporters before the matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers. “He’s just not healthy.”
Antetokounmpo, a 10-time All-Star and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, suffered a hyperextension and bone bruise to his left knee during the third quarter of a home contest against the Indiana Pacers on March 15. The Bucks have dropped three of four games since his exit and 11 of their past 14 overall, leaving their playoff hopes fading. No timetable has been set for his return.
The forward’s absence has been intertwined with league discussions on tanking and the NBA’s Player Participation Policy. On Tuesday, the National Basketball Players Association issued a statement emphasizing that the policy is designed to make sure healthy All-Stars play and warned that “fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked.” The union’s remarks followed multiple reports indicating Antetokounmpo hopes to rejoin the lineup soon.
Rivers dismissed any suggestion that the Bucks are deliberately sitting their franchise player. “We’re just trying to get Giannis clear and healthy,” he said. “That’s our only focus. All the other stuff, we stay above.”
Source: ESPN.com
