The Milwaukee Bucks could get a big boost to their lineup Saturday night with the anticipated return of Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Antetokounmpo has been out since Dec. 3 with a right calf strain and as long as pregame testing by the team’s athletic training staff goes well, he will play against the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
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Antetokounmpo dropped to the floor with a non-contact injury during the opening quarter of the Bucks’ Dec. 3 win over the Detroit Pistons. After limping to the locker room, he was eventually ruled out due to a soleus strain, the same injury that caused his 2023-24 season to come to a premature end.
The Bucks have gone 2-6 in Antetokounmpo’s absence and are 10-19 overall on the season. That puts them 11th in the Eastern Conference, chasing the Bulls and Atlanta Hawks for a play-in spot, and five games behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed.
Through 17 games, the 30-year-old Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
Antetokounmpo’s injury, coupled with his contract status, has also caused the rumor mill to heat up while he’s been out. After inking a three-year extension with Milwaukee in 2023, he still has a year and a half remaining on his current deal before he can opt out.
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After a report came out that the former MVP was talking to the team about his future with the franchise, Antetokounmpo denied any role in the talks and indicated his agent was handling them without his input.
While there would be a large market interested in acquiring his services, Antetokounmpo has been focused on his health and pushing the Bucks back into winning ways.
“I’m still locked in, locked in on my teammates. Most importantly, locked in on me getting back healthy,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “And then, locked in on my teammates and how can I help them from the sideline or encourage them to be able to play and play free?
“Because at the end of the day, it takes a toll on them, too, right? They’re playing game after game after game. Thank God we’ve had a very good schedule in the last couple of weeks, but it takes a toll on them, too — rumors, injuries, lose, win. It’s hard, right? As a leader, but most importantly as a winner, you just gotta be there for them first.”