The Milwaukee Bucks are getting a giant enhance to their lineup Saturday evening with the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo has been out since Dec. 3 with a right calf strain and, so long as pregame testing by the staff’s athletic coaching workers goes properly, he’ll play against the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
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The Bucks have listed Antetokounmpo as “questionable” on Saturday’s injury report. The staff then stated that he was out there to play shortly earlier than tipoff, and head coach Doc Rivers stated on Saturday afternoon that he anticipated Antetokounmpo to take the court docket.
Antetokounmpo dropped to the ground with a non-contact injury throughout the opening quarter of the Bucks’ Dec. 3 win over the Detroit Pistons. After limping to the locker room, he was ultimately ruled out due to a soleus strain, the identical injury that triggered his 2023-24 season to come to a untimely finish.
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The Bucks have gone 2-6 in Antetokounmpo’s absence and are 10-19 general on the season. That places them eleventh within the Eastern Conference, chasing the Bulls and Atlanta Hawks for a play-in spot, and 5 video games behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed.
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Through 17 video games, the 30-year-old Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 factors, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
Antetokounmpo’s injury, coupled together with his contract standing, has additionally triggered the rumor mill to warmth up whereas he is been out. After inking a three-year extension with Milwaukee in 2023, he nonetheless has a 12 months and a half remaining on his present deal earlier than he can choose out.
After a report got here out that the previous MVP was speaking to the staff about his future with the franchise, Antetokounmpo denied any role in the talks and indicated his agent was dealing with them with out his enter.
While there would be a large market interested in buying his providers, Antetokounmpo has been centered on his well being and pushing the Bucks again into profitable methods.
“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.”