On Wednesday afternoon, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent were actively discussing his long-term future with the organization. Many fans quickly took that to mean a trade could be looming for the former MVP, and the situation grew even more tense later that night when Antetokounmpo left the Bucks’ win over the Detroit Pistons with a calf strain.
Now, in the aftermath of that setback, observers are noting how this latest issue, paired with the games Antetokounmpo has already missed this season, may take a toll on him as the year wears on.
“It is important to note that Giannis has already missed 6 games this season. He must play in a minimum of 65 games to remain eligible for MVP, All-NBA, and other honors. This calf strain could result in his All-NBA and MVP voting streak ending,” Clutchpoints’ Brett Siegel wrote in his post on X (formerly Twitter).
Giannis Antetokounmpo has already spent a sizable chunk of this season on the sidelines, and on Thursday Shams Charania reported that the Bucks will now lose him for another two to four weeks because of the calf strain.
Giannis Antetokounmpo may lose his awards eligibility this season
The Bucks superstar already has three seasons with fewer than 65 games played, finishing at 63, 63, and 61. This year he has suited up for 15 of Milwaukee’s first 21 games, and he appeared in 73 and 67 games over the past two seasons.
This season’s numbers also get tricky because he logged only three minutes against the Pistons and just 13 against the Cleveland Cavaliers before exiting with a groin issue, which means those appearances count as games missed under the twenty-minute rule.
The Bucks have fallen well short of expectations this season, sitting at 10-13 despite Wednesday’s unexpected win over Detroit.
Even with Antetokounmpo in the lineup, the Bucks have struggled to produce consistent basketball this season, and other teams are likely to offer their top trade packages for the star in the coming weeks, despite the growing injury concerns that have become a major part of his narrative.
