Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return to action after a 15-game absence didn’t go as planned. The Milwaukee Bucks were trounced 108-81 by the Boston Celtics at the Fiserv Forum on Monday.
The All-Star forward finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds upon his return, but his efforts weren’t enough to get past the impressive Celtics unit at home.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Reflects on Injury Recovery in the Past, and the Approach Forward
Speaking to the reporters in the aftermath of the loss, Antetokounmpo reflected on the string of injuries he dealt with throughout his 13-year career in the league.
“I’ve been injured a lot. I’ve sprained my ankles, I’ve hyperextended my knee, my back has been hurting me, sprained my wrist. And I’m able to come back, like when the doctor tells me 2, 3, 4 weeks, I’m able to cut that time in half and come back,” the forward said.
“They’ve told me in the past… 3 weeks out, and I’ve been back in 4 days. I thought [this time] would be the same, and I think sometimes that’s not good, because it’s just like a fool’s reality.”
The two-time NBA MVP opined it was time to take a smarter approach as he enters a more challenging phase of his career. “I’m 31 years old. Just gotta be able to be smarter moving forward, because things I was able to do in the past I might not be able to do now.”
“I just gotta be more methodical with my rehab, the way I take care of my body, the way I play. Moving forward, I just gotta be smarter.”
Anteokounmpo was back in action after missing 15 games for the Bucks, a period where he not only had to deal with his right calf strain, but also the trade buzz surrounding the 2021 NBA champion.
After missing more than five weeks, Giannis made his return last night for the Bucks.
“Right now, I’m just happy that I’m out there.. I’ve dealt with 3 injuries this year, I’m just happy I’m doing what I love” https://t.co/kCOWIc9TDJ
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) March 3, 2026
This season, the ‘Greek Freak’ is averaging 27.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in his 31 games so far. Their recent loss to the Celtics sees the Bucks languish in 11th place in the East with a 26-34 record.
With the playoff chances looking bleak, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks will look to make some massive inroads to make their way to the play-in. Their postseason test becomes sterner if they end up as the eighth seed by the end of the regular season.
Up next, the Bucks host the Atlanta Hawks, hoping to snap their three-game losing skid. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games, and the return of their superstar should give them a boost as they make one final playoff push.
