Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo anticipates a 4-6 week absence because of calf injury.
MILWAUKEE — Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo did not complete Friday night’s 102-100 defeat against the Denver Nuggets due to a right calf injury, which Antetokounmpo indicated after the game he anticipates will keep him out for a minimum of four to six weeks.
Antetokounmpo is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday for a more detailed assessment of the injury, which affected his performance throughout Friday’s game. He mentioned that the discomfort felt reminiscent of the calf injury that had previously sidelined him this season.
“After the MRI, they will likely inform me that I popped something in my calf on my soleus or something,” Antetokounmpo stated on Friday. “This is based on my experience in the NBA.”
Antetokounmpo seemed to sustain the injury during the first quarter and went to the locker room. He returned to the game with a wrap around his right calf and continued to play despite the injury.
“I was feeling it for most of the game but did not want to stop playing,” Antetokounmpo remarked. “However, towards the end, I could no longer move, so I had to stop.”
Bucks coach Doc Rivers noted that he believed Antetokounmpo was favoring his leg for a significant portion of the second half before he ultimately removed him from the game.
“I asked our [medical] team five different times,” Rivers said. “I didn’t like what I was seeing, personally. Giannis was determined to stay in.”
Antetokounmpo has faced calf injuries in recent years. In December, he was sidelined for three weeks due to what he later described as a right soleus strain, the same injury that prevented him from participating in the 2024 playoffs.
“This calf keeps recurring and it’s concerning,” Rivers stated. “I’m not a doctor, but I’m perceptive enough to recognize that his calf continues to trouble him and there is an underlying issue. It keeps happening, and that’s worrisome for all of us.”
Despite the injury, Antetokounmpo remained on the court for 32 minutes on Friday, concluding with 22 points on 4-of-8 shooting, along with 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Milwaukee nearly executed a late comeback from a 23-point deficit with 10:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, narrowing the gap to two points, but Antetokounmpo was clearly favoring his leg towards the end of the game, and the attempt fell short.
“For me to stop playing and be unable to move? It was extremely painful,” Antetokounmpo expressed. “I was just trying to be out there, do whatever I could, and try to impact the game in any way possible. Passing, rebounding, just whatever I could. I feel like even when I’m at a disadvantage, I might still be effective. I’ve done it before. It’s not the first time, so I would just try to be out there and assist my team in any way I could.”
The potential absence of Antetokounmpo represents a considerable setback for Milwaukee, which suffered its fifth loss in the last six games on Friday night. The Bucks, currently at 18-26, remain in 11th place in the standings and trail the Hawks by 2 1/2 games for the No. 10 seed.
Overall, the Bucks have a record of 3-11 this season without Antetokounmpo.
“I’m going to work hard to return,” Antetokounmpo said. “That will likely be at the end of February or the beginning of March. Hopefully, the team will be in a position to at least contend for the play-in or the playoffs and just take it day by day, trying to improve.”
