Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been diagnosed with a left calf strain and will miss the remainder of the regular season. The injury occurred late in the third quarter of the Bucks’ 104-91 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. As Antetokounmpo was running up the court after a Celtics’ 3-pointer, he suddenly collapsed, clutching his left calf. He was assisted off the court by teammates and did not return to the game.
An MRI confirmed a strain of the left soleus muscle, a part of the calf, but fortunately revealed no damage to the Achilles tendon. The Bucks announced that Antetokounmpo will miss the final three regular-season games and will receive daily treatment and evaluation. His availability for the start of the playoffs remains uncertain.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers expressed cautious optimism regarding Antetokounmpo’s recovery. “There’s no one who’s gonna work harder than him, you know that, so he’ll be back when he should be back. We’ll find out when that is. I’m hoping [he’ll be back for Game 1 of the playoffs]. I don’t know, I’m just hoping,” Rivers stated.
Teammate Damian Lillard, who has experienced a similar injury in the past, shared his perspective: “Usually I’m able to walk things off. I feel like I have a high pain tolerance, and when I did it, I started to walk, it wasn’t just that it was that painful, it was that the muscle just can’t handle it. So, I think once it calmed down, you kind of figured out a way to limp around it, but it’s a weird feeling.”
The Bucks have already secured a playoff spot and currently hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 48-31 record. They lead the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks by 1.5 games. The playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 20, but the Bucks’ opening series may not commence until April 21, depending on the schedule.
In Antetokounmpo’s absence, the team will rely on a collective effort to maintain their performance. Forward Khris Middleton emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “Just encourage him to get right, don’t rush and risk more injury and make it worse. On our end, we just have to find a way to fill the gap together. Not one guy’s gonna replace somebody like that.”
The Bucks’ final regular-season games are against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The team and fans alike are hopeful for Antetokounmpo’s swift recovery and return to action as they prepare for the
postseason.
