It has been a tough season for the Milwaukee Bucks and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
At 23-30, the Bucks are on the outside looking in at a playoff spot, and Antetokounmpo has been hit with injuries, playing in just 30 games this year.
Now, he is going to miss another night on the big stage.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Not Play in All-Star Game
Antetokounmpo has once again been one of the marquee names throughout the season.
Although the ‘Greek Freak’ is averaging 28.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game while shooting a blistering 64.5% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc, that’s not the main reason he’s been arguably the league’s most talked-about player.
Antetokounmpo was the subject of trade rumors throughout the season, and there were even reports that he himself was ready to move on. The Bucks, however, decided to hold onto Antetokounmpo through last week’s trade deadline.
Antetokounmpo has also been bothered by a calf injury and hasn’t played since Jan. 23 against the Nuggets. Antetokounmpo previously had a similar injury that kept him out of the 2024 postseason, so both the Bucks and Antetokounmpo are being very careful this time around.
That’s why Antetokounmpo, joining a long list of players going through various injuries this season, will not be playing in Sunday evening’s All-Star game.
Calf injuries can lead to further injuries, and pushing yourself is how you could wind up with an Achilles injury like the one Indiana Pacers’ guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered after playing through other injuries in last season’s NBA Finals.
San Antonio Spurs’ veteran guard De’Aaron Fox was chosen as a replacement.
In the league’s new round robin format, Antetokounmpo would have played for Team World. With Fox playing for the United States (specifically the USA Stripes), Miami Heat guard Norman Powell will play for Team World, with his ties to Jamaica being the rationale.
Of course, it isn’t all bad news. Per ESPN’s Jamal Collier, Antetokounmpo is going to play again this season.
“Giannis is going to play again this season perhaps as soon as sometime later this month after the all star break,” Collier said. “February 20 is about 4 weeks from that 4-6 week timeline that he initially laid out and my sources are saying that Giannis is hoping to trend on the shorter end of that timeline.”
The Bucks have signed Cam Thomas, who was released by the Nets last week, to help them carry the load now and provide an additional scoring boost once Antetokounmpo returns.
Just when that day is remains to be seen.
