The Milwaukee Bucks (8-10) could have sidelined All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo (abductor strain) back in the lineup imminently.
According to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, Antetokounmpo went through a complete pregame workout on Monday without any setbacks and will be a game-time decision when the Bucks face the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Bucks have listed Antetokounmpo as “questionable” in their injury report, which means the “Greek Freak” has progressed swiftly from an injury that was earlier feared to be worse.
Shortly before Monday’s 115-103 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers revealed that both Antetokounmpo and Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) were “pretty close” to being cleared for in-game action after they engaged in full-contact practice.
Bucks Get Huge Lift
The news of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return comes at a crucial time for a Bucks team that has lost five games in a row after starting the season with an 8-5 record. A big part of their issue has been the lack of offensive production in Antetokounmpo’s absence.
“I think we’re really struggling scoring,” Rivers said after Monday’s loss, via Nehm.
“They’re taking Ryan [Rollins] out of it. We don’t have the ability right now to get into anything else when he doesn’t have it. That’s what I was talking about with the coaches. We gotta figure it out, the coaches do. We gotta take the burden off them and try to make it easier for them.”
Ryan Rollins Carrying Offensive Load
Rollins, who has emerged as the Bucks’ secondary scoring option this season, has been the focal point during Antetokounmpo’s injury absence. Rivers explained why the young guard has been caught off guard with opponents zeroing in on him defensively.
“Just pressuring him, same as (the Detroit Pistons) did,” Rivers said of how teams are defending Rollins, who is averaging a career-high 18.2 points and 6.0 assists.
“You can predict that. The league is copycat. After the other night, I told our coaches (that) Ryan’s next couple games, they’re gonna trap him and pressure him and try to speed him up, because they know … we don’t have a lot of ballhandling out there on the floor. We don’t have a lot of ballhandling on the team in that way. So, we have to figure that out.”
The Bucks still face an uncertain future with Antetokounmpo, who reportedly toyed with the idea of exploring a trade last offseason. The 30-year-old said at the start of the season that he would reassess his future in Milwaukee after the 2025-26 season, while stressing that he is “locked in” with his teammates at least until the 2026 offseason.
“I’m locked into whatever I have I front of me,” said the 2021 NBA Finals MVP.
“Now if in six, seven months I change my mind, that’s human, too. You’re allowed to make any decision you want. But I’m locked in. I’m locked into this team. I’m locked into these guys, this group, and to my coaching staff and to myself.”
Antetokounmpo has the option of becoming a free agent in the summer of 2027.
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