MILWAUKEE (AP) \u2014 Giannis Antetokounmpo developed a reputation for making rapid returns from injury during his rise to superstardom, but the Milwaukee Bucks forward acknowledges those days may be drawing to a close.<\/p>\n
Antetokounmpo had 19 points and 11 rebounds Monday night in Milwaukee\u2019s 108-81 loss<\/a> to the Boston Celtics, his first action since straining his right calf<\/a> on Jan. 23. The two-time MVP has missed a career-high 29 games this season, 23 of those with calf injuries.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a new experience for Antetokounmpo, who had grown accustomed to returning earlier than expected from injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve just got to be smarter moving forward, because things that I was able to do in the past maybe I\u2019m not able to do now,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cI\u2019ve just got to be more methodical with my rehab.\u201d<\/p>\n During Milwaukee\u2019s 2021 playoff run, Antetokounmpo missed just two games with a hyperextended left knee and went on to earn NBA Finals MVP honors<\/a> while leading the Bucks to their first championship in half a century. Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in the series-ending Game 6 victory<\/a> over the Phoenix Suns.<\/p>\n This season has proved more frustrating.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not old, but I\u2019m older, for sure,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cI\u2019m not 24 years old anymore. I\u2019m 31.\u201d<\/p>\n Antetokounmpo missed eight games with a right calf strain in December, came back and then strained his calf again. Calf issues also caused him to miss Milwaukee\u2019s 2024 first-round playoff loss to Indiana.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re dealing with soft-tissue issues, it\u2019s hard,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cI\u2019ve dealt with knee pain in the past. It\u2019s totally different. If you\u2019re not able to take care of your soft-tissue injuries, they can linger. I think that\u2019s what happened this year. I feel like I\u2019ve been playing the whole year with a deficit.\u201d<\/p>\n The same could be said for Antetokounmpo\u2019s team.<\/p>\n Milwaukee is 15-16 with Antetokounmpo and 11-18 without him as the Bucks are facing increasingly long odds in their bid for a 10th straight playoff berth.<\/p>\n The Bucks are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, 3 1\/2 games behind 10th-place Charlotte. The teams that finish seventh through 10th compete in a tournament for the East\u2019s two final playoff spots.<\/p>\n Milwaukee went 8-2 without Antetokounmpo from Feb. 3-25 but has lost its last three games by a combined 79 points. Bucks coach Doc Rivers altered his rotation Monday by giving Ousmane Dieng his second start of the season and not playing Kyle Kuzma.<\/p>\n Forward Bobby Portis referred to Milwaukee\u2019s 8-2 stretch as \u201cfool\u2019s gold,\u201d pointing out that many of those wins came against teams with losing records.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously a lot of ground we have to cover to get into a play-in situation, a playoff situation,\u201d Portis said. \u201cNew waters for us, new uncharted waters for us. Really not used to being in this situation, but I just think \u2026 staying together is big. So many ways different guys can go. You can start thinking about yourself. You can start thinking about summer, whatever it is.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bucks will try to make their push amid speculation about Antetokounmpo\u2019s future.<\/p>\n In October, Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million. He otherwise could become a free agent at the end of next season.<\/p>\n Although Antetokounmpo repeatedly has discussed how much he loves playing in Milwaukee, he also has prioritized wanting to play on a team that\u2019s committed to competing for championships. The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last three seasons.<\/p>\n Now they\u2019ll have their hands full getting to the postseason at all. In the meantime, Antetokounmpo will have his minutes restricted while he works toward full health and gets accustomed to playing with Dieng and Cam Thomas.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just happy that I\u2019m on the court,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I\u2019m just happy that I\u2019m out there. I\u2019m just in a mindset where I try not to take nothing for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n