Giannis Antetokounmpo is back on the injury report after suffering a significant injury in the Milwaukee Bucks’ matchup against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 23.
The injury is serious enough to keep the two-time MVP winner out of NBA All-Star Week in February. Here’s the latest on his injury and when he might return to the court for the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Injury in Bucks-Nuggets Game
Antetokounmpo said he suffered a calf strain in the first quarter of the Bucks’ showdown against the Nuggets. Despite the painful injury, he played through it, posting 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists in 32 minutes. He shot 4-of-8 from the field and 14-of-16 from the free-throw line.
However, he was laboring with the pain near the end of the game. He reflected on the injury in the postgame press conference, having a brutal update on how long it will keep him on the sidelines, via ESPN.
“After the MRI, they will tell me, probably, I popped something in my calf on my soleus or something,” Antetokounmpo said. “This is from my experience being around the NBA. I was feeling it majority of the game but did not want to stop playing. But at the end, I could not move no more, so I had to stop.”
“For me to stop playing and not be able to move? It was extremely painful. I was just trying to be out there, do whatever I could, try to affect the game in any way that I could. Passing, rebounding, just whatever I could. I feel like even sometimes when I’m at a disadvantage, I might still be effective. I’ve done it in the past. It’s not the first time, so I would just try to be out there and try to help my team whatever way possible.”
He stated he will miss 4 to 6 weeks with the calf strain, meaning he will miss the remainder of January and at least most of February. At the latest, he would be back on the court in March, indicating that his All-Star selection won’t see him on the hardwood in Los Angeles.
What’s Next for Bucks amid Antetokounmpo’s Injury?
Antetokounmpo has already gone through a calf strain earlier in the 2025-26 season. The previous injury kept him out for three weeks in December, underscoring the concern his history poses for the Bucks organization as they manage his health.
The Bucks has an 18-26 record on the season, sitting at 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They have a 1.5-game edge over the Charlotte Hornets and a 5.5-game edge over the Brooklyn Nets. However, they are behind the Atlanta Hawks by 2.5 games and the Chicago Bulls by four games.
The Bucks will need to bounce back without Antetokounmpo, who is out due to injury, and they’ll remain at home. They host the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. ET.
