Just hours after making headlines with some rekindled trade rumors and reports, Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered an injury during the Bucks’ matchup with the Pistons. The two-time MVP left after just three minutes of action and went down with a concerning-looking lower leg issue.
The worst fears were avoided as ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Antetokounmpo has been diagnosed with a right calf strain, with this expected to keep him out between two and four weeks.
This is still a massive concern for a player whose game is so dependent on his strength and athleticism. It has been a league-wide shift to treat calf injuries with more seriousness this year following the recent uptick in Achilles injuries. This will especially be the case with Antetokoumpo given his uncertain future with his current team.
Perhaps the greater concern for Milwaukee will be how to survive without the 30-year-old. So far this season they are 2-5 in games he has not played and roughly 20 points per 100 possessions worse without him on the floor. The Bucks hold an overall record of 10-13 this year, which drops them to 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
There are more questions than answers for what is next for Antetokoumpo and the Bucks. But for the short term a sigh of relief should be released that this is not a major injury that changes the outlook for him and the team.
DraftKings Sportsbook is now offering odds for who Giannis Antetokounmpo will be suiting up for following the trade deadline. The Milwaukee Bucks remain the favorite at +150 odds, but there have been quite a few changes to this outlook recently.
Stay tuned to DK Network for live updates surrounding Antetokounmpo’s outlook and all other notable players moving forward.
