Giannis’ return sparks Hope for Bucks Push
The Milwaukee Bucks looked like a different team the moment Giannis Antetokounmpo stepped back onto the floor.
After missing more than three weeks with a right calf injury, Antetokounmpo returned to the starting lineup on Saturday and wasted no time making an impact. The two-time MVP scored a game high 29 points on 10 of 15 shooting, leading Milwaukee to a 112-103 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Antetokounmpo had been sidelined since Dec. 3, when he suffered a calf strain early in a win over the Detroit Pistons. During his absence, the Bucks struggled, going 2-6 and slipping to 11th in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks confirmed Antetokounmpo’s availability shortly before tipoff, and his presence was felt immediately. He entered Saturday averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, and his return provided a much needed boost for a team searching for momentum.
Milwaukee now sits at 12-19, just five games behind the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, and 5½ games back of the Toronto Raptors for fourth place in the East.
ESPN reported before the season that the Bucks and New York Knicks discussed Antetokounmpo in trade talks in August, though nothing materialized. The speculation has only intensified since.
“This is the most I’ve been ever talked about in my career,” Antetokounmpo said in mid-December.
“I’m in my house with my kids and all that and I’m opening the TV and it’s like, ‘Oh, Giannis is going to the Memphis Grizzlies,’ or ‘Giannis is going to the Detroit Pistons.’ Which, hey man, I’m not going to lie, I’m the hottest chick in the game right now. No, I’m joking.”
This is not the first time injury has kept Antetokounmpo out of game. His 2023-24 season ended early due to a calf strain that forced him to miss the final three regular-season games and the Bucks’ entire first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.
