The Milwaukee Bucks are 18-26 on the season and are facing the reality of playing another prolonged stretch of games without their best player, 10-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. On Friday night, the two-time NBA MVP suffered yet another calf injury and himself stated that he expects to miss the next 4-6 weeks worth of games.
This news, of course, was not welcome to Bucks fans, who are unsure if the greatest player in franchise history will even be on the roster following the February 5 trade deadline. Indeed, his injury only seems to have increased trade speculation rather than decrease it.
Of course, Giannis’ recent injury problems may give other teams pause when considering a trade for him, and/or affect what the Bucks could expect to get back in return for him.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers hints Giannis Antetokounmpo should stop playing for Greece
Jan 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks on during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
On Monday, Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers addressed the media for the first time following the official MRI on Giannis’ leg. He revealed that the superstar did a great job self-diagnosing the injury: it is, in fact, a calf strain. However, he also added that there is no timetable for his return. He could return prior to the 4-6 week time-frame, during it, or even be out even longer.
Additionally, Rivers hinted that he thinks it might be time for Giannis to cease playing for the Greek National Team during the summer:
With multiple right calf strains this season, do the Bucks need to be more cautious and really make sure Giannis Antetokounmpo is right physically before he returns to action?
Doc Rivers: https://t.co/Bxh1NH15Gh pic.twitter.com/IKpTm6yZ12
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) January 26, 2026
As one can see from the post above, Rivers says this is the third or fourth year in a row that Giannis has suffered a serious lower leg injury. Furthermore, he states, “He plays a lot of basketball. He really does. Summers, the body doesn’t get a lot of breaks, and that’s tough.”
Giannis, of course, has played for the Greek National Team in various international tournaments over the past few years. At the times at which he announced his participation, many fans worried that more high-octane game-play would lead to him having injury issues.
Now, it would seem, Rivers shares the same concern.
For his part, Giannis has previously stated that playing for his native Greece is the biggest honor for him as a basketball player. In other words, if the Bucks, or whatever team he ends up with, want him to stop, they may have a hard time convincing him to.
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