{"id":698929,"date":"2026-04-05T02:45:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T02:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/698929\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T02:45:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T02:45:49","slug":"giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-at-impasse-as-grizzlies-visit-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/698929\/","title":{"rendered":"Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks at impasse as Grizzlies visit – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

With five regular-season games left, there won\u2019t be a postseason for the struggling Milwaukee Bucks, but that doesn\u2019t mean the team\u2019s star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, wants to sit out the remaining games.<\/p>\n

The Bucks (30-47) host the Memphis Grizzlies (25-52) on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo, who has missed the past 10 games with a left knee injury, said Friday he was healthy enough to play but is being held out. According to multiple reports, the NBA is investigating the matter.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo made his position clear before Friday\u2019s home game with Boston, which the Celtics won 133-101. He spoke with reporters an hour before tipoff.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know who you are dealing with,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cSo for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it\u2019s like a slap in my face. So, I don\u2019t know where the relationship goes from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo has spent his 13-year NBA career with the Bucks.<\/p>\n

The National Basketball Players Association issued a statement March 24 stating Antetokounmpo was healthy and should be on the court but was being held out as part of a tanking effort by Milwaukee. The Bucks were eliminated from playoff contention March 28 in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee in the team\u2019s March 15 win over the Indiana Pacers and has been listed as out on the injury report for the past 10 games with a bone bruise. He went through warmups Friday and said he was available but didn\u2019t play.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tough part about this is that I\u2019m in the middle and I have nothing to do with it,\u201d said Bucks coach Doc Rivers. \u201cCoaches don\u2019t decide any of this. I don\u2019t like when it\u2019s this he-said, she-said stuff. It\u2019s not good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have lost two straight and six of their last seven.<\/p>\n

Memphis is in a more drastic tailspin. The Grizzlies have lost their last three \u2014 against Phoenix, New York and Toronto \u2014 by an average of 23. The Raptors beat the injury-decimated Grizzlies by 32 (128-96) on Friday.<\/p>\n

Overall, Memphis has lost eight of nine and 16 of 18.<\/p>\n

One of the few key rotation players available for Memphis, GG Jackson, scored a season-high 30 points against the Raptors and rookie Cedric Coward, another starter, had 15 points.<\/p>\n

The Grizzlies played with a roster that included four 10-day contract players \u2014 including two signed Thursday \u2014 and three two-way players. With so many new players, Memphis has struggled to find any kind of rhythm on the court as the season winds down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the effort level was great, but It takes more than one shootaround,\u201d said Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo of the difficulty of melding newcomers quickly into the rotation.<\/p>\n

Watching Jackson develop into what could become an integral part of next season has been encouraging. An athletic, 6-foot-9 power forward, he played point guard late in the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s improved so much as a finisher just getting to the rim and bullying guys and still finishing with a high level of accuracy,\u201d Iisalo said. \u201cThat\u2019s a rare combination.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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