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After re-committing to the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline, Giannis Antetokounmpo got a major calf injury update on a potential return.
The Milwaukee Bucks had everyone on the edge of their seats at the February 5th NBA trade deadline, as it was uncertain whether superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo would be moved, because, while dealing with a calf injury, there was major speculation and reporting that the two-time Finals MVP was looking for a new team.
However, a trade did not come to fruition, and Antetokounmpo re-committed to the Bucks, for the time being. While he is staying put for now, the Greek star has been out with his injury, but a new update could signal a return soon.
Speaking with reporters, Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo is close to a return after being out since January 23rd, but he won’t return until he’s fully healthy.
“He’s going to play when he’s healthy,” Rivers said on Friday. “We just got to make sure he’s healthy. He’s getting close. He’s working out. He looks good. So I would say hopefully sooner than later.”
While the previous trade speculation led headlines for most of the season, Antetokounmpo remains with the Bucks for now, but there is an indication that trade rumors will heat up once again over the offseason, or until he signs a new extension with the team.
Giannis Injury Update Amid Trade Speculation
This season, Antetokounmpo has missed two stretches of time with a calf injury. Interestingly enough, the announcement of both injuries came on the same days NBA insider Shams Charania reported about his uncertain future with the team. While the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks were in the hunt to land the superstar at the trade deadline despite his injury, he wasn’t moved.
While the team has minimal playoff hopes this season, Rivers said the entire organization had a sigh of relief after it was confirmed the team had no plans of moving him at the trade deadline.
“You can just see the way everybody was skipping around the gym today,” Rivers added.
Yet still, the back-to-back calf injuries this season remain a concern. After Antetokounmpo went down in late January, he told reporters that he expected to be out for four to six weeks. Initially, Rivers did not give a direct timeline for a return, despite the superstar self-diagnosing after suffering his second calf strain of the season.
“I’m going to work my butt off to come back,” Antetokounmpo previously said. “That will probably be the end of February, beginning of March. Hopefully the team will be in a place that we can at least make the play-in or make the playoffs and just take it day by day, try to get better.”
“He did a very good job. MRI has revealed exactly what we thought,” Rivers said of Antetokounmpo’s comments about likely missing four to six weeks, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “There’s no timetable. Calf strain and really no timetable for return. Hopefully, like it was before, sooner (than later), but there’s no timetable.”
But now, it appears the 2021 Finals MVP is getting closer to a return. Despite the massive trade speculation, Antetokounmpo has stayed firm that he wants to compete for titles with the Bucks. However, a return this season could be risky, as another injury could impact his trade value in the offseason, as it is still very uncertain if he will be moved, despite him staying up at the trade deadline.
On the season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points, ten rebounds, and 5.6 assists on 64.5% shooting in 30 games.
Giannis Makes Announcement After Not Being Traded
While speculation about a potential trade has been the leading story across the league for the past few months, that did not appear to faze the Bucks’ superstar. After re-committing to the franchise at the deadline, Antetokounmpo made a surprising announcement as it relates to his off-court and non-basketball activities.
In a recent post on social media, the star announced he is becoming a shareholder in the trading predictions market, Kalshi.
“The internet is full of opinions. I decided it was time to make some of my own,” Antetokounmpo wrote. “Today, I’m joining Kalshi as a shareholder.”
Per the Associated Press, the company said he is the first basketball player to become a shareholder in the company, and his partnership with Kalshi will include live events and marketing.
There’s a bit of irony in the announcement, as on the prediction market, many were placing wagers on the next team Antetokounmpo would play for before the trade deadline. The Bucks tended to remain the top favorite, but at certain times, the Warriors, Timberwolves, and even the Chicago Bulls had high odds that he would play his next game for one of them.
“I love the Kalshi markets and have been checking them often recently,” Antetokounmpo said in the company’s release. “I like to win. It’s clear to me Kalshi is going to be a winner and I’m excited to be getting involved.”
While the timing of the announcement could be seen as serendipitous, Antetokounmpo now joins a company that likely made money from his uncertain future at the trade deadline.
But for the time being, Antetokounmpo remains with the Bucks, and a return to the court can be expected sometime in the near future.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
