NBA champion Kendrick Perkins was one of the names sharing their two cents on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return from injury.
Ahead of their Monday skirmish against the Boston Celtics, the Milwaukee Bucks activated their star forward. However, the outcome, despite his 19 points and 11 rebounds, was a dismal 108-81 loss to the in-form Celtics.
Kendrick Perkins’ Take on Bucks’ Playoff Chances Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Return
Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, Perkins shared his thoughts on Antetokounmpo’s return, while also adding that it wasn’t moving the needle by much for the Bucks this season.
“It’s always great to see Giannis on the floor,” Perkins said. “The Bucks have shown us that we can’t take them to the buffet because all they’re going to do is continue to order salad.”
He further added that the Eastern Conference side lacked direction this season, and Antetokounmpo’s dominance could only take them so far.
On the game front, the 2021 NBA champion missed 15 games due to a calf strain and laced up for the first time since January 23. His double-double and his explosive athleticism were the only bright spots for the Bucks after their Monday night drubbing.
Giannis is back and powers right to the rack. 💪 pic.twitter.com/JpPXiGPU4d
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 3, 2026
Earlier, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers lamented the tough outing. “I don’t care about the points. I just care about how we’re playing,” Rivers said, per The Athletic.
“We were playing great, and we’ve kind of lost our way, and I think it’s on both ends. I think offensively, we had a great rhythm, and we’ve done it in spurts in the last three games, but we haven’t been able to sustain it.”
The Bucks have been behind the eight ball since the start of the season, and now find themselves under tremendous pressure to make the playoffs. With a 26-34 record, they are 11th in the Conference and trail the 10th-place Charlotte Hornets by four wins.
Antetokounmpo has been a force for the side as usual when he’s on the floor. The two-time NBA MVP has played 31 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 27.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
Apart from a key injury sidelining their franchise superstar, the Bucks have struggled to close games, looked slow on defense, and been erratic on offense. The lack of depth and the serious absence of a clutch operator further dented the side this season. Only time will tell if the Bucks can seal a play-in berth at best as the regular season inches to a close.
