The NBA is investigating milwaukee bucks To deal with potentially inconsistent statements regarding player participation policy and health giannis antetokounmpoSources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Friday.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have told different stories to league investigators: Antetokounmpo has informed the Bucks and the NBA that he wants to play, but the team will not clear him medically, sources told Charania. Sources said Milwaukee informed the league it does not believe Antetokounmpo is ready and actually wants to play.
Antetokounmpo, who has not played since dislocating his left knee against the Pacers on March 15, spoke to reporters before Friday 133-101 loss till boston celtics in Milwaukee and reiterated that he is healthy and ready to play.
“I’m available to play, but I’m not in the game,” Antetokounmpo told reporters Friday. “I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available.”
Antetokounmpo missed his 10th consecutive game Friday night with a knee strain and bone bruise. A few days after the injury, sources told Charania that the Bucks wanted to shut down Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the year and he rejected the team’s request to play again this season.
The National Basketball Players Association reprimanded the Bucks late last month, issuing a statement saying Milwaukee was “tanking” and damaging the integrity of the league.
The Bucks were eliminated from postseason contention on March 28, marking the first time since 2016 that they would miss the playoffs.
Sources told ESPN that the league has interviewed Antetokounmpo, the Bucks and team doctors.
“For someone to come and tell me not to play or not compete, that’s a slap in the face to me,” Antetokounmpo told reporters on Friday. “So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo has appeared in 36 games this season, the fewest he has played in any season so far in his career. He has dealt with two calf strains, an adductor strain and a knee hyperextension this season.
Since he was injured on March 15, Antetokounmpo said the Bucks have not contacted him about playing again. Coach Doc Rivers said last week that Antetokounmpo hasn’t even practiced. But ahead of home games, according to team sources, Antetokounmpo is going through his usual pregame routine, working on intensity in those workouts to make a statement.
The Bucks have five games remaining in the regular season.
Information from ESPN’s Jamal Collier was used in this report.
