Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup Monday night, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 108-81 loss to the Boston Celtics, marking his first game action in over five weeks.
The two-time MVP had been sidelined since January 23rd, when he strained his right calf during a game against the Denver Nuggets. This marked his second calf strain of the season, having previously missed three weeks earlier in the year with a similar injury. Bucks coach Doc Rivers confirmed Antetokounmpo would be on a minutes restriction for his return.
“Giannis has worked his butt off,” Rivers said before the game. “He’s been frustrated over the last week because he wanted to work because he wanted to reach back. I think they kept him out longer because of (his recent history of calf strains). We did that the first time. That didn’t work out. But listen, guys, What we have is basketball. You go out and play, and you’ve just got to hope he stays healthy.”
Antetokounmpo’s absence has been keenly felt by the Bucks, who have a record of 15-15 with him in the lineup and 11-18 without him this season. Milwaukee currently sits 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, 3.0 games behind Charlotte for the 10th and final spot in the Play-In Tournament. The team went 8-7 during the most recent stretch without their star player.
Despite the loss to Boston, Antetokounmpo’s return is a significant development for a Bucks team hoping to secure a 10th consecutive playoff berth. Rivers emphasized that the team hadn’t played its way out of contention despite the challenges of playing without their best player for an extended period. “We didn’t play ourself out of it,” Rivers stated. “Obviously I’m competitive. I think we should have had an even better record. But not having your best player for that long and staying above .500 is huge for us.”
The 31-year-aged Antetokounmpo has missed a career-high 29 games this season, with 23 of those absences due to calf issues. His return comes at a time of uncertainty surrounding his long-term future with the team. He is eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October, but could similarly become a free agent at the end of next season.
Antetokounmpo has repeatedly expressed his affection for Milwaukee, but has also indicated that playing for a championship contender is a priority. The Bucks won their first NBA title in 50 years in 2021, but have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since. “Right now, as of today, I’m a Milwaukee Buck, and I’m committed to that,” Antetokounmpo said during the All-Star break. “Now what happens if things move and change in the future, that change, I can’t control that. If I could predict the future, trust me, I’d be a billionaire.”
Milwaukee’s first-round draft pick in the upcoming NBA draft will either belong to the Bucks or the New Orleans Pelicans, depending on which team has the less favorable position.
