Is Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo close to returning from his calf injury? If the latest updates are to be believed, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Antetokounmpo has missed the first two games of the Bucks’ NBA Playoffs series against the Indiana Pacers due to his calf strain. And while he’s progressing, it doesn’t seem it’s enough to get him to be ready for a game.
Shams Charania Drops Latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Injury With Milwaukee Bucks
After the Bucks’ Game 2 loss to the Pacers, head coach Doc Rivers shared that Antetokounmpo is progressing in his recovery from injury, noting that he’s getting “closer” to returning.
“He shot today. He was on the floor a bunch, so he’s getting closer,” Rivers said, per Yahoo Sports.
That statement made it look like Antetokounmpo is in line to return anytime soon, which certainly raised some hopes among the Milwaukee faithful.
Unfortunately, in the latest update shared by NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, he hinted that Antetokounmpo’s progress isn’t as significant how Rivers made it out to be. In fact, he repeated his previous report that there’s a possibility the Greek Freak doesn’t suit up for the rest of the first round series.
“I’m told [Giannis Antetokounmpo] has at least started to do some stationary jump shooting…But still not much cutting, no scrimmaging, no all out running yet…I think the Bucks have to be prepared to keep playing on without Giannis,” Charania revealed on Run It Back.
That’s certainly not a good thing to hear, especially after the Pacers tied the series 1-1 and dominated their most recent battle with the Bucks. Without Giannis, Milwaukee will have to find another source of offense, with Damian Lillard clearly having a hard time carrying the scoring load by himself.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Out for NBA Playoffs Series vs. Indiana Pacers?
Prior to the NBA Playoffs, Shams Charania already shared the possibility of Giannis Antetokounmpo needing two to four weeks to recover from his calf injury.
If Antetokounmpo’s injury recovery were to last for a month, then he would miss the whole first round with since Game 7 of the series with the Pacers is scheduled on May 3–and that’s if they are able to force it to go the distance without their superstar.
“He is doubtful to start this series. I’m told this injury could be anywhere from two to four weeks, potentially. And we know his superhuman ability. But that clearly puts his status for this series in jeopardy,” Charania earlier this April.
It remains to be seen what will happen to Antetokounmpo, but the Milwaukee Bucks definitely need to be mentally and physically prepared to be without their best player against their heated rivals.
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