The Milwaukee Foundry just took a serious hit, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been putting the Bucks on his back, delivering MVP-caliber performances that have kept them competitive in a brutal Eastern Conference.
His complete skill set has shaped nearly every game Milwaukee has played so far. Then came Monday’s clash with Cleveland. The nine-time All-Star went up for a layup, missed it, and immediately came down awkwardly. He knew something was wrong right away.
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Antetokounmpo fouled Evan Mobley just to stop play, then headed straight to the locker room without looking back. By Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Shams Charania delivered the verdict everyone in Milwaukee was dreading.
“Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a low-grade left groin strain and will miss 1 to 2 weeks, sources tell ESPN. Positive outcome after tests Tuesday for Antetokounmpo, who is the only player in the NBA averaging 30 points and 10 rebounds,” Charania wrote.
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It somewhat feels like the best-case scenario given how bad it looked in real time. The 6-foot-11 former Defensive Player of the Year will miss some games during a tough stretch, but at least it’s not a long-term disaster.
Through his first 13 fully healthy outings, the 30-year-old entered Tuesday ranked fourth in scoring at 31.2 points, seventh in rebounds at 10.8, and 15th in assists with 6.8.
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Without him on the floor, though, Milwaukee looks completely different. The energy dips noticeably. The Bucks are just 1-2 in games where he hasn’t been available by the final horn, including Monday’s 118-106 loss to Cleveland when he missed the entire second half.
Getting him back healthy might be the only thing standing between Milwaukee and some serious trouble.
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