Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers revealed that superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will require close to four weeks to recover from a right calf strain, per ESPN’s Jamal Collier.
“I feel like we should learn is with calves — make sure they’re healthy,” Rivers said Friday, via Collier. “So that may take longer than we want. That even may make Giannis frustrated over it, but we just got to try to get that right.”
Antetokounmpo suffered the calf strain in the first quarter of Milwaukee’s 113-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, falling to the floor while attempting to get back on defense.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the following day that the two-time MVP would miss two to four weeks due to the injury.
Antetokounmpo was also sidelined for four games earlier in the season with a left groin strain.
The nine-time All-Star’s murky long-term future in Milwaukee has surrounded the start of the 2025-26 season, as Charania previously reported that Antetokounmpo’s representation was having conversations with the Bucks regarding “whether his best fit is staying or a move elsewhere.”
Despite the 30-year-old’s involvement in trade rumors, he’s remained one of the NBA’s most dominant players when healthy.
Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.9 points in 29.1 minutes per game, pulling down 10.1 rebounds and dishing out 6.1 assists on a nightly basis. He’s connecting on 63.9 percent of his field goals while showcasing improved three-point accuracy, shooting 10-of-23 from behind the arc.
The Bucks own a 10-13 record, sitting at No. 10 in the Eastern Conference standings.
Until the 2021 Finals MVP is able to return, Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis should continue to see expanded roles in Milwaukee’s rotation.
