Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly at loggerheads over whether he should continue playing this season.
The Bucks have 14 games left to play this season and are 6.5 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In Tournament spot. According to The Athletic, they are intent on shutting their star player down.
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However, he is not on board with the decision and wants to see out the rest of the season.
The Greek Freak has missed 32 games due to injuries this season. He suffered a hyperextended knee after an awkward landing that followed a vicious slam during Sunday’s win over the Indiana Pacers.
The 31-year-old has been on a minutes restriction over the last few months, having dealt with calf, groin, ankle and knee injuries over the course of the season.
The player told reporters he was fine and wanted to return to the game on Sunday.
“Yeah, I think I hyperextended my knee,” he said. “I haven’t seen the clip. I want to see the clip. Doesn’t matter. That’s pretty much it. I wanted to get back in the game. They looked at me and said, ‘No, it’s not worth it.’ We were up 13, 15. They was like, ‘No, no way, it’s not worth it.’”
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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MRI Came Back Clean
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket. Michael McLoone-Imagn ImagesMichael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone-Imagn Images)
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo’s MRI looked “really good” when he spoke to the media on Tuesday, though he was not aware when the player could return.
“The good news was it was a really good image, so there was no damage. Nothing,” Rivers said. “It was really just good news. But I don’t know the next part (about a timeline for his return).”
The team kept the two-time MVP out of Tuesday’s game despite his negative MRI. He had already been listed as questionable with an ankle sprain; the team updated its injury report to reflect that he was out with a bone bruise caused by a left knee hyperextension.
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“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,” The Athletic reports.
Antetokounmpo was the subject of trade rumors earlier this year, with the Miami Heat among the frontrunners. The Bucks managed to hold onto him past the February 5 deadline, but they should have a decision to make in the offseason.
Related: Steve Kerr Addresses Erik Spoelstra’s Comments on Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game
This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Mar 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.