It is unlike Giannis Antetokkoounmpo to take games off. Through minor injuries or even nagging, the Greek Freak generally perseveres. However, this year he took a different route. After feeling some discomfort in his left calf, the two-time NBA MVP decided it was best not to push himself. He even sat out the All-Star game held in San Francisco. His careful approach towards the injury though stems from the nightmare of what happened last season.
Prior to the season, the 30-year-old brute forward set a goal for himself. “I’ve said this this year I want to be smart. One of my goals is to uh be available for the playoffs,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said during his press conference. The stunning two-way forward revealed feeling some discomfort in his calf prior to the game against the Hornets.
Rather than exert himself and play through the pain, Antetokounmpo took the “smart” decision. Albeit, it still tried to play, as and would expect the tough forward too.
And maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo could have played through the pain. However, the discomfort he felt was similar to what happened last season close to the playoffs. “I felt it days prior to that maybe like a week or two prior to that and then you know you overcompensate or um you keep on playing and you’re like okay it’s just going to be tight it’s going to be stiff I’m going to play through it. But I wasn’t able to play through it and I got hurt,” he pointed.
Jan 23, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) takes a shot against Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
It restricted the Greek Freak to watch from the sidelines as the Bucks fell short against the Indiana Pacers. It would have been the first taste of what a Lillard-Antetokounmpo dynamics looks in the postseason. But due to his own mindset, the injury worsened, causing Antetokounmpo to spend time on the sidelines.
Likewise, he doesn’t wish to take that risk again. “The team, we thought it would be you know the best idea to take a few games off, get it right get back healthy, and um you don’t want to go out there and play with fear. You don’t want to go out there play with fear overcompensate and don’t be 100% and don’t be confident. You don’t want to do that so that’s why I was out,” said Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With his devotion to the Bucks, the injury during the playoffs might have taken a toll on Antetokounmpo. He claims he will never ask for a trade. “They would have to kick me out,” he specifically said. Having such commitment towards his franchise, they might need him more than ever before this season.
The Bucks need Giannis Anterokounmpo for the postseason
I know it sounds like very obvious. However, it’s crucial to understand just how critical it is for Antetokounmpo to be present. Unlike last year, the Bucks don’t have the seasoned presence of Khris Middleton to try and bring some stability to the Bucks in the absence of the Greek Freak. Additionally, Lillard and Antetokounmpo have now learned how to play together, blossoming into one of the most prolific tandems in the league.
The former Finals MVP is having a career year. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging a career-high 31.8 points per game while being one of the pillars of the Bucks’ unsettled defense.
According to Basketball Reference, Antetokounmpo has also compiled 6.3 win shares this season, the most on the Bucks’ roster. With the team heavily relying on their cornerstone for scoring production, Giannis Antetokounmpo is more indispensable than ever this year. The Bucks hinge on his tenacity and fierce spirit to dictate games.
Likewise, preventing him from picking up a major injury this close to the postseason wouldn’t have been wise. Especially, considering it’s the same left calf, rest was certainly the right way to go. Now having taken a much-needed break to recover, Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return.
And it comes at a time when a string of wins could significantly push the Bucks in the Eastern Conference ladder. The team is only one game behind the fourth-seeded Pacers team. While ending with a top-three finish is unlikely, the teams below such as the Pistons and the Hawks are breathing down Milwaukee’s neck.
Having a healthy and well-rested Giannis Antetokounmpo could unlock the team’s potential before the playoffs begin. With a vision to win a championship, the tactical decision could ensure they stand on firm ground, unlike last year when the season ended in upsetting season.
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