‘Doesn’t look good’: Giannis goes down in alarming scenes after coach fires back at trade rumours
Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone down with a non-contact, lower leg injury after trade speculation has intensified around the Milwaukee Bucks star.
Antetokounmpo collapsed to to the ground suddenly while running back on defence after assisting a bucket to AJ Green in the opening minutes of Milwaukee’s home game against Detroit on Thursday (all times AEDT).
The 30-year old was able to walk off the court unassisted.
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“Uh oh, Giannis down. Doesn’t look good. Does not league good. He went down immediately, summoned for the trainer,” commentator Marques Johnson said.
Milwaukee say Antetokounmpo has a right calf strain that ruled him out of the rest of the game.
It comes after Doc Rivers shot down any suggestion that Antetokounmpo has asked for a trade out of Milwaukee.
The head coach was forced to address rumors that Antetokounmpo requested a trade ahead of the Bucks’ game against the Pistons.
“There have been no conversations,” Rivers told reporters.
“I want to make it clear for, I would say one more time, but for the 50th time it clearly is not getting to one network, for sure. Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever. I can’t make that more clear.”
The “one network” that Rivers was referring to would be ESPN, which reported that Antetokounmpo and his agent were talking with the Bucks about his future with and “discussing whether his best fit is staying or a move elsewhere.”
The report also stated that a resolution is expected in the coming weeks.
Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks has been up in the air, and during the offseason, it was reported that he had interest in being traded to the Knicks and that New York was given an exclusive negotiating window during a multi-week period in August.
Other teams are believed to be interested in the NBA champion if the possibility of a trade opens up.
A few weeks ago, when Milwaukee was at MSG, a Post reporter brought up the initial ESPN regarding the summertime trade possibility to the Big Apple, Antetokounmpo said he didn’t “remember that.”
“Right now, I’m here representing my team, and that’s it. We beat the Knicks. So it doesn’t matter,” he said.
“What matters right now is we have a game in two days … try to stay locked in and get two in a row.
“But I didn’t read that article. I try to stay away from all the rumors and speculation and trades. It doesn’t concern me one bit. I try to involve myself and I try to help my team win games.”
The Bucks started the season off hot, going 4-1 out of the gate, but they’re 9-13 and have lost eight of their last nine games entering Thursday.
-Parts of this story were first published in the New York Post and reproduced with permission.
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