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The Milwaukee Bucks won’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor during the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, but fans will still see him in Los Angeles.
The Bucks say Antetokounmpo is continuing to rehab a right calf strain and won’t play in Sunday’s All-Star Game. The Bucks added that Giannis is expected to help coach the All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday and be in the building to support his Team World teammates on Sunday.
That “he’s here, but he’s not playing” wrinkle matters for search because a lot of casual fans will be looking for a simple answer: Is Giannis playing in the All-Star Game? No, and the Bucks are still treating the calf as a rehab situation, not something to rush for an exhibition.
Why Giannis Isn’t Playing: The Right Calf Timeline
This isn’t a one-off soreness situation. Antetokounmpo has been dealing with recurring calf trouble, including a right calf issue earlier this season and another flare-up that led to an uncertain timetable. The Associated Press reported the Bucks have avoided putting a firm date on his return, with head coach Doc Rivers emphasizing that the team will play him when he’s healthy, but also acknowledging there’s “no timetable.”
Giannis himself previously indicated the injury could sideline him in the four-to-six week range (pending imaging/medical evaluation).
This is now at least the second straight All-Star weekend where the dominant question is less about highlights and more about Giannis’ health and what it means for Milwaukee’s stretch run.
Giannis’ absence also takes one of the league’s most bankable box-score lines out of Sunday’s showcase. In 30 games this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 64.5% from the field. He’s still living at the stripe, too (6.5 makes on 9.9 free-throw attempts per game), which is a big reason the Bucks’ focus is on getting him fully right after the break rather than risking a lingering calf issue in an exhibition setting.
What It Means for Team World and the New All-Star Format
Sunday’s game is also a little different than the typical “East vs. West” memory a lot of fans still have. The league is rolling out a USA vs. World concept for 2026, which is why you’re seeing “Team World” phrasing tied to Giannis’ planned appearance on the sidelines.
So even though Antetokounmpo won’t play, his presence is still relevant to the weekend: he’s expected to be around the Team World group and involved in the Friday celebrity event.
And yes, the celebrity game is a real calendar item people will search for. It’s set for Friday night at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, part of All-Star weekend’s opening slate.
The Bigger Bucks Question: When Could Giannis Be Back?
For Milwaukee, the bigger concern is what comes after the weekend.
The Bucks’ first game after the All-Star break is Feb. 20 at New Orleans, which gives Giannis additional rehab days without game action. That date is important because it’s a natural checkpoint: if he’s trending toward the shorter end of that four-to-six week window, that post-break stretch is where fans will start expecting “questionable” tags and ramp-up reports.
This is also where the Bucks have to balance two competing realities:
They need wins down the stretch (seeding matters, especially in a crowded conference).
Calf strains can linger, and re-aggravation is the nightmare outcome, particularly for a player whose game is built on explosive force and constant rim pressure.
For now, the clearest update is the simplest one for readers: Giannis isn’t playing Sunday, but he’s expected to be visible all weekend, and the real target is getting him right for Milwaukee’s post-break run.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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