Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo appears to be nearing his long-awaited return to the court. ESPN’s Jamal Collier reported on Tuesday’s episode of NBA Today that Antetokounmpo is expected to play again this season.
“Giannis is going to play again this season perhaps as soon as sometime later this month after the all star break. February 20 is about 4 weeks from that 4-6 week timeline that he initially laid out and my sources are saying that Giannis is hoping to trend on the shorter end of that timeline,” Collier said during his appearance in ESPN.
"Giannis is going to play again this season perhaps as soon as sometime later this month after the all star break. February 20 is about 4 weeks from that 4-6 week timeline that he initially laid out and my sources are saying that Giannis is hoping to trend on the shorter end of… pic.twitter.com/HhgkG4ujra
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 10, 2026
Antetokounmpo suffered a right calf strain on January 23, his second calf injury of the season, and initially expected to miss four to six weeks. The Bucks have not announced an official return date, but sources told ESPN he may be aiming for the sooner side of that estimate. If he follows that timeline, he could return on February 20, the team’s first game after the All-Star break.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks’ bonkers season
The 2025-26 season has been a whirlwind for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Despite months of trade speculation around the the Greek Freak, he remained with the Bucks past the February 5 deadline, though the team could revisit trade discussions during the offseason.
With their number one option missing time, the Bucks have had a hard time keeping up in the Eastern Conference, sitting 12th with a 21-30 record. In the 30 games he has played this season, Antetokounmpo has continued to dominate, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while shooting 64.5 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three-point range.
A healthy return from Antetokounmpo would give Milwaukee a major boost in their push for a playoff spot or at least a place in the Play-In tournament.
The Bucks’ next game is Wednesday in a rematch against the Orlando Magic, who hold a 28-24 record.
