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Jamal Collier
milwaukee– box Coach Doc Rivers said he expects the star giannis antetokounmpo It will take about four weeks to recover from the strain he suffered on his right calf Wednesday night.
Antetokounmpo’s initial diagnosis predicted that he would may be sidelined for two to four weeksBut Rivers cautioned against rushing Antetokounmpo back onto the court.
“I think we need to learn with the calves – make sure they’re healthy,” Rivers said before Friday’s game. sixes“So it may take longer than we want, It may frustrate Giannis, but we’ve got to try to make it right,”
About three minutes into Wednesday’s game against detroit pistonsAntetokounmpo fell to the floor trying to get back on defense, after which Rivers believed there was a collision going on at the basket. He remained on the court until he had to seek help from his teammates. Then he quietly went towards the locker room.
Rivers explained how the Bucks only have seven games over the next three weeks due to the light schedule after failing to qualify for the NBA Cup. He said he spoke with Antetokounmpo on Thursday following the MRI results and said the two-time MVP was in good mood.
“We talked for a long time [Thursday],” Rivers said. “When Giannis gets injured, he’ll give you his date. You literally just, you hear it, but you don’t hear it because to him it’s always, I’ll be back in a week, or I’ll be back sooner.”
Antetokounmpo, who turns 31 on Saturday, is off to one of the strongest starts of his career, averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists on 64% shooting in 17 games this season. Antetokounmpo suffered a similar injury before the 2024 playoffs when he suffered a calf strain with three games remaining in the regular season and then was knocked out of Milwaukee’s first-round pick that season, missing nearly three weeks.
This marks the second time the Bucks have had to go without Antetokounmpo this season. He missed four games last month due to a left adductor injury; The team went 0–4 during that span.
“I think, and we’ll see, I think we’re better equipped for it, but it’s going to be tough,” Rivers said before Friday’s game, pointing to a healthy starting point guard. Kevin Porter Jr.A reason to sidestep his optimism with Antetokounmpo,
“You don’t replace those points, those rebounds and more importantly his downhill attacks that make 3s. We are the No. 1 3-point shooting team in the league and Giannis has a lot to do with us getting those shots. Now we have to try to make those shots without him. It’s going to be more difficult.”
Milwaukee has 11 games remaining in 2025, seven of which are on the road. The Bucks are 9-8 with Antetokounmpo in the lineup this season, but have gone 1-5 when he doesn’t play. Their 109.0 offensive rating with Antetokounmpo would be the fifth-worst offense in the NBA.
If Antetokounmpo is sidelined for the next four weeks, his eligibility for end-of-season awards could be in jeopardy. NBA players must play at least 65 regular season games to be eligible for the league’s major awards such as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and All-NBA teams.
Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP, has been a first-team All-NBA selection and finished in the top five in MVP voting for seven consecutive seasons.
