The Milwaukee Bucks want Giannis Antetokounmpo to sit out the rest of the season, but the two‑time MVP has made it clear he intends to keep playing, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
Antetokounmpo is currently out with a left knee hyperextension.
“The Bucks, per league sources, have made it clear to their franchise centerpiece that it would be in their shared interest for him to sit out with the team currently 6 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In Tournament spot,” Nehm wrote. “While injuries have forced Antetokounmpo to miss 32 games already this season, league sources tell The Athletic the 10-time All-Star forward has informed the team he has no desire to cut his season short.
“When reached for comment, a team source noted that Antetokounmpo is still injured and not cleared to play at this time, and an update will be sent when that changes. … Bucks leadership has already approached Antetokounmpo about the idea of not playing another game for Milwaukee this season, which the franchise’s all-time leading scorer firmly rebuffed, league sources told The Athletic Tuesday.”
Antetokounmpo has appeared in only 36 games this season due to injuries. He’s averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 62.4% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 65.0% from the free-throw line.
The Bucks are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings. If the regular season ended today, they would not be in the NBA play-in tournament.
Antetokounmpo was almost traded at this year’s NBA trade deadline. Most people around the league expect Milwaukee and Antetokounmpo to part ways this offseason.
A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career with the Bucks. He’s a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star.
Milwaukee won the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. Since then, the franchise has won just one playoff series.
Antetokounmpo has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season. The Bucks can sign the forward to an extension in October.
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