The Athletic's Sam Amick believes the Bucks’ current stance - that Giannis Antetokounmpo won't be medically cleared to play despite strong indications that he feels ready - is the clearest sign yet that both sides are headed for a split this summer.
The Milwaukee Bucks' decision to rest a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo against his wishes has drawn significant attention and sparked growing questions about his future with the franchise.
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According to NBA writer Sam Amick of The Athletic, the situation could be a major sign that both sides are heading toward a potential split this summer.
"Never mind that Giannis Antetokounmpo has a long and legendary reputation for playing through pain, or that the Bucks never seemed to take issue with that quality when it gave them a chance to win a championship," Amick writes.
"The team's current stance - that he won't be medically cleared to play despite strong indications that he believes he's good to go - is the clearest sign yet that these two parties are headed for a divorce this summer."
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"And whether the Bucks are trying to preserve his health for an eventual trade, improve their draft position, or both, the fact that this approach is directly at odds with Antetokounmpo's desires speaks volumes about the state of affairs in this relationship," he adds.
"There's always a never-say-never component to star player decisions, but the notion of Antetokounmpo still being in a Bucks jersey when he's eligible to sign a four-year, $270 million extension on Oct. 1 seems more unlikely by the day."
The 10-time All-Star has been on a minutes limit this season while working through injuries to his calf, groin, ankle, and knee. He has appeared in 36 games, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 28.9 minutes per game.
The Bucks are now 11th in the East with a 29-43 record and have only a theoretical chance of making the play-in, sitting nine games behind the 10th seed with 10 games remaining.
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