The Milwaukee Bucks could get a huge enhance to their lineup Saturday evening with the anticipated return of Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Antetokounmpo has been out since Dec. 3 with a proper calf pressure and as long as pregame testing by the staff’s athletic coaching employees goes properly, he will play against the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
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Antetokounmpo dropped to the flooring with a non-contact harm during the opening quarter of the Bucks’ Dec. 3 win over the Detroit Pistons. After limping to the locker room, he was finally ruled out due to a soleus pressure, the same harm that triggered his 2023-24 season to come to a untimely finish.
The Bucks have gone 2-6 in Antetokounmpo’s absence and are 10-19 general on the season. That places them eleventh in the Eastern Conference, chasing the Bulls and Atlanta Hawks for a play-in spot, and 5 video games behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed.
Through 17 video games, the 30-year-old Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 factors, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
Antetokounmpo’s harm, coupled with his contract standing, has also triggered the rumor mill to heat up while he’s been out. After inking a three-year extension with Milwaukee in 2023, he still has a yr and a half remaining on his present deal before he can decide out.
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After a report came out that the former MVP was speaking to the staff about his future with the franchise, Antetokounmpo denied any position in the talks and indicated his agent was handling them without his enter.
While there would be a massive market in buying his providers, Antetokounmpo has been centered on his health and pushing the Bucks back into profitable methods.
“I’m still locked in, locked in on my teammates. Most importantly, locked in on me getting back healthy,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “And then, locked in on my teammates and how can I help them from the sideline or encourage them to be able to play and play free?
“Because at the end of the day, it takes a toll on them, too, right? They’re playing game after game after game. Thank God we’ve had a very good schedule in the last couple of weeks, but it takes a toll on them, too — rumors, injuries, lose, win. It’s hard, right? As a leader, but most importantly as a winner, you just gotta be there for them first.”
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