Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to miss nearly four weeks with right calf strain, Rivers says
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Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said Friday he anticipates star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will need close to four weeks to recover from the right calf strain he suffered two days earlier.
Antetokounmpo was hurt less than three minutes into Wednesday’s home game against the Detroit Pistons when he slipped while retreating on defense after a collision on a drive to the basket. He stayed on the floor until teammates helped him up, then limped to the locker room. An MRI later confirmed the strain.
The initial medical timetable ranged from two to four weeks, but Rivers indicated the club will err on the side of caution. “I feel like we should learn with calves — make sure they’re healthy,” Rivers said before Milwaukee faced the Philadelphia 76ers. “That may take longer than we want. It may even frustrate Giannis, but we have to get it right.”
Light schedule could aid recovery
Because Milwaukee failed to advance in the NBA Cup, the Bucks play only seven times over the next three weeks. Rivers noted the lighter slate could allow for a more deliberate rehab program. He spoke with Antetokounmpo on Thursday after the MRI results and said the two-time MVP, who turns 31 on Saturday, remains upbeat. “When Giannis gets injured, he’ll give you his own date,” Rivers joked. “To him it’s always, ‘I’ll be back in a week.’”
Strong season interrupted
Through 17 games, Antetokounmpo was averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 64% from the field — one of the best starts of his career. He missed four contests last month with a left adductor issue, during which Milwaukee went 0-4. The Bucks are 9-8 with him in the lineup this season and 1-5 without him; their 109.0 offensive rating when he is off the court would rank fifth worst in the league.
This is the second time in two seasons Antetokounmpo has dealt with a calf problem. He strained a calf in April 2024, sat out roughly three weeks and missed Milwaukee’s first-round playoff series.
Roster impact and award implications
Rivers said the team is better prepared to cope this time, citing the availability of starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. But he acknowledged it will be “more difficult” to replicate Antetokounmpo’s downhill attacks that generate open three-pointers for the NBA’s top three-point shooting team.
Milwaukee has 11 games left in 2025, seven on the road. If Antetokounmpo remains sidelined for the projected four weeks, his ability to meet the NBA’s 65-game minimum for major end-of-season awards could be at risk. The six-time first-team All-NBA selection has finished in the top five of MVP voting for seven consecutive seasons.
Source: ESPN
