{"id":588044,"date":"2026-02-07T09:36:31","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T09:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/588044\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T09:36:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T09:36:31","slug":"it-was-a-relief-bucks-on-keeping-antetokounmpo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/588044\/","title":{"rendered":"‘It was a relief’ – Bucks on keeping Antetokounmpo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Giannis Antetokounmpo is “close” to returning from injury, says Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who described the “relief” in the camp after speculation that the two-time MVP might be traded.<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old forward remained at the club after Thursday’s trade deadline, and Rivers said the other players were “skipping around the gym” after it was confirmed he would be staying put.<\/p>\n

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Antetokounmpo has been limited to 30 games this season because of injury and has not played since suffering a calf strain on 23 January.<\/p>\n

“He’s going to play when he’s healthy – he’s getting close,” said Rivers.<\/p>\n

“He’s working out. He looks good. So I would say hopefully sooner than later.”<\/p>\n

The Bucks claimed their third consecutive win on Friday night, beating the Indiana Pacers 105-99, but remain 12th in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, three wins behind the Charlotte Hornets in the final play-off spot.<\/p>\n

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The Bucks have a 6-14 losing record when playing without Antetokounmpo, but have won 15 of their 30 games when he has been in the team.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo averages 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game and a 65% shooting success this season, earning him a place in the NBA All-Star game.<\/a><\/p>\n

He has completed a workout on court before the past three Bucks games and posted a clip on social media from the film The Wolf of Wall Street after Thursday’s trade deadline passed, along with a message: “Legends don’t chase. They attract.”<\/p>\n

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“It was a relief,” Rivers said. “I thought Giannis’ tweet was like a unifying thing for all the players.”<\/p>\n

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