Giannis Antetokounmpo
Getty
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo since he suffered a right calf strain against the Denver Nuggets on January 23. Antetokounmpo has only played in 30 games this season, but it seems like he’s inching closer to a return.
The two-time MVP has been plagued by calf issues over the past two seasons. He missed eight games in December because of a right calf strain. He re-aggravated the injury and has now missed more than a month because of it.
Antetokounmpo has missed the last 14 games, with the Bucks exceeding expectations. The team has a surprising record of 8-6 since The Greek Freak suffered the injury.
Antetokounmpo Attends WWE Elimination Chamber
Giannis Antetokounmpo
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is the biggest name on the trade market ahead of the deadline.
The Bucks are scheduled to face the Chicago Bulls on Sunday afternoon. Giannis and his brother Thanasis were in the Windy City a day early to attend WWE Elimination Chamber at the United Center.
Giannis and Thanasis were shown on the live broadcast, soaking in the boos from the Chicago crowd. The Greek Freak loved the reception he received and booed the fans right back, while Thanasis was pumped up with his custom Bucks WWE Championship belt.
Commentator Michael Cole also pleaded with Giannis to join the New York Knicks. Cole, who is a native New Yorker, made the case for the Knicks to acquire the one-time NBA champion.
In addition to the Antetokounmpo brothers, other celebrities at the WWE event include artist Jelly Roll, rapper Lil Yachty and UFC fighter Michael Chandler.
Giannis’ Status for Bulls Game
According to the Bucks’ official injury report, Giannis is set to miss his 15th consecutive game due to a strained right calf. He continues to ramp up his recovery from the injury, and it seems like his return is imminent.
The Bucks set a recovery timeline of six weeks, which means he could be returning at the end of this week. Coach Doc Rivers told reporters a few days ago that Giannis is close to becoming a 100% healthy.
“I know he’s close,” Rivers said, via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I don’t think he’s close like, tomorrow. But he’s getting closer. He looked great, you know? That’s all I know. I can tell you what my eyes see, and he looks good.”
Before his injury, Giannis was averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. He was shooting 64.5% from the field, 39.5% from 3-point range and 65.8% from the free-throw line.
NBA Insider Drops New Giannis Trade Update
The Bucks were listening to offers for Giannis at the trade deadline, but they ultimately didn’t pull the trigger. Just when it seemed like The Greek Freak was ready to move on, he was pulled back in by the franchise.
However, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that there is speculation within the NBA about Giannis. More teams will have draft capital this offseason, so a trade could still happen.
Some of the teams linked to Giannis at the trade deadline were the Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets.