Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will be shelved for at least a week after being diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise, ESPN reported on Tuesday.
Antetokounmpo, who has battled an array of injuries this season while missing a career-high 31 games, will be re-evaluated in one week.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said that recent imaging revealed no structural damage.
“The good news was it was really a good image. There was no damage,” Rivers said.
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, is averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 36 games this season. However, he is already set to play the fewest games of his 13 seasons with the Bucks. His previous low was 61 games during the shortened 2020-21 campaign.
The 31-year-old returned from a right calf strain that caused him to miss 15 games on March 2, but he also had to sit out two games during a stretch when the Bucks posted a 2-6 record (0-2 without Antetokounmpo).
A left ankle sprain was cited as the cause of his absence from the 122-99 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 14.
The Bucks, 28-39, are currently 5 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets (34-34) for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
A 10-time All-Star, Antetokounmpo has career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 895 games (830 starts).
–Field Level Media
