Milwaukee Bucks All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has reportedly pushed back against the team’s decision to shut him down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season due to his hyperextended knee diagnosis, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN‘s Shams Charania on Wednesday (May 18).
“The Milwaukee Bucks want Giannis Antetokounmpo to shut down for the remainder of the season after his latest injury and the team’s playoff chances dwindled, but Antetokounmpo has refused the team’s requests and wants to play again, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote on his X account. “There have been multiple meetings over Antetokounmpo’s status in the last 24 hours since his hyperextended knee diagnosis, and a disagreement has ensued between the sides on whether it is best for him to return, sources said.”
The Bucks announced their decision to sideline Antetokounmpo, 31, due to a left knee injury, the latest setback of an injury-plagued season, having already missed a career-high 32 games, and didn’t provide a timeline for his return. Sources told ESPN that the former NBA champion would miss at least a week due to a hyperextension and a bone bruise in the knee with 14 games remaining on Milwaukee’s regular season schedule.
The two sides reportedly had meetings during the past 24 hours and Antetokounmpo was adamant that playing through the injury wouldn’t have long-term consequences. The two-time NBA MVP landed awkwardly after a dunk in the third quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the Bucks’ win against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday (March 18), despite claiming he felt he could play.
The Bucks are 28-40 and rank 11th in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Charlotte Hornets by 6.5 games for the 10th and final spot for the play-in tournament.