Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are in open disagreement over whether the two-time MVP should play again this season. The Bucks have urged their franchise cornerstone to shut down, but Antetokounmpo has firmly rejected the idea, per league sources that spoke with Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
Milwaukee sits 6.5 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In spot with 14 games remaining. Bucks leadership has directly approached Antetokounmpo about ending his season early, a proposal the franchise’s all-time leading scorer rebuffed, sources told The Athletic.
The most recent setback is a left knee hyperextension suffered Sunday against the Indiana Pacers with an MRI on Monday returning clean results.
“The good news was it was a really good image, so there was no damage. Nothing,” Doc Rivers said. “But I don’t know the next part about a timeline for his return.”
Despite the clean imaging, Milwaukee ruled Antetokounmpo out for Tuesday’s 123-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, updating his injury designation to include a bone bruise. He has now missed 32 games this season while battling calf, groin, ankle and knee issues. In 36 appearances, he has averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
The Bucks hold a pick-swap with the New Orleans Pelicans with the better pick going to the Atlanta Hawks, which means the team is still incentivized to have the best pre-lottery position possible. The Bucks are tied for the ninth-worst record; New Orleans currently sits seventh.
The franchise also faces a pivotal offseason decision with Antetokounmpo, with a supermax extension eligible October 1 and trade discussions expected to resurface. Keeping Antetokounmpo healthy through that period carries significant value either way.
Rivers said he expects Antetokounmpo to travel with the team to Salt Lake City for Thursday’s game against Utah.
ESPN’s Shams Charania also reported that there have been multiple meetings over Antetokounmpo’s status since his injury with disagreement between the sides on whether he should return.