The state of affairs between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks has turn into even messier.
The crew and participant have been in a standoff over his present well being, with the Bucks reportedly insisting he be shut down and Antetokounmpo claiming he is capable of playing.
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Antetokounmpo personally aired his grievances on Friday, insisting to reporters he’s wholesome and questioning his relationship with a crew that has already seen a number of rounds of commerce rumors.
From Eric Nehm of The Athletic:
“You know who you are dealing with,” Antetokounmpo mentioned in an interview with native reporters one hour earlier than Friday’s sport towards the Boston Celtics. “So for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
“I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available. Do I look like I’m not available?”
Antetokounmpo has appeared in solely 36 video games this season and hasn’t performed since March 15, when he sustained a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the NBA is investigating the Bucks for his or her dealing with of the participant participation coverage and potential inconsistent statements about Antetokounmpo’s well being on Friday, one thing the league confirmed on Saturday.
“I’ve never seen a case of a player saying, my caliber of player, that’s like — I’m saying it publicly — I want to f***ing play. You know what I’m saying?” Antetokounmpo mentioned Friday. “I don’t think I’ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we figure something out.”
Antetokounmpo added gasoline to that fireside by saying the crew ghosted him when he rebuffed their strategy about shutting him down for the season, through The Athletic:
“I had an initial conversation with who I should be talking to, which is coach Doc [Rivers] — let’s just keep it at coach Doc and [general manager] Jon [Horst] — and the initial conversation is that I want to play. And after that I’ve never had a conversation again,” Anteotkounmpo mentioned. “Nobody has ever approached me [about] not playing or whatever the plan is.”
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He then welcomed the NBA’s investigation.
The NBA confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the investigation “is ongoing and certain facts remain in dispute.” But the league did say that the Bucks had scheduled Antetokounmpo to take part in three-on-three scrimmages final week, and he declined.
“The investigation has found that the Bucks scheduled Giannis to work out last week in three-on-three scrimmages as part of his return-to-play process, but he declined to participate,” a league spokesperson mentioned on Saturday, via Charania. “There is a disagreement as to whether the team requested that Giannis participate in a group workout earlier this week, and the league is continuing to monitor the situation.”
Antetokounmpo declining to take part would seem to contradict his assertion that he’s wholesome sufficient to resume basketball actions and play.
The NBPA has already signaled its displeasure with the situation. Rivers shrugged that off, telling reporters Antetokounmpo is “just not healthy.”
With a 30-47 document, the Bucks’ season is successfully over. They solely have 5 video games left within the common season after Friday’s 131-101 loss to the Boston Celtics, and so they have already been eradicated from playoff competition. If Antetokounmpo’s feedback are any indication, they’re about to enter a really fascinating offseason.
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Antetokounmpo has just one assured season left on his contract, which incorporates a $58.5 million wage for the 2026-27. He has a participant choice for 2027-28 with a $62.8 million wage.