An all-new report on the Giannis Antetokounmp injury leaves a massive black cloud over the Milwaukee Bucks playoff hopes in 2024.
The Bucks made several major changes before and during the 2023-24 NBA season in the hopes that the team could win its second championship in the last four years. They fired Mike Budenholzer — the man who led them to a title three years ago — and then ousted his replacement, Adrian Griffin, during the season.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo injury: He has a strained left soleus (calf) muscle
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He was replaced by Doc Rivers and the veteran head coach had to institute his own system midway through the year while the combo of Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard tried to iron out their chemistry after a summer trade that brought the Trail Blazers legend to Milwaukee. Yet, despite the consistent turnover on the floor and bench, there was a belief the Bucks could be a force in this year’s playoffs.
That was until Antetokounmpo suffered a calf injury late in the season. Similar to the 2022-23 playoffs the organization remained positive that he might only miss a game or two in their upcoming first-round series against the Indiana Pacers. However, according to Stadium NBA insider Shams Charania, the Bucks will be lucky if they even get him back in the second round.
Could Giannis Antetokounmpo injury force him out of action for the next month?
“He is doubtful to start the series. I am told this injury could take anywhere from two to four weeks [to fully recover from]. And we know his superhuman abilities but that clearly puts his status for this series in jeopardy,” Charania said on Thursday.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo stats (2023-24): 30.4 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 27% 3PT
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This calf injury follows Achilles tendinitis and a hamstring injury Antetokounmpo also dealt with earlier in the season. So even if he can make it back to the floor, he will be nowhere near 100% and they have a very serious test in the Pacers starting this weekend. Things are not looking good for the Bucks in these 2024 NBA Playoffs.