Former player and basketball executive Udonis Haslem slammed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s attempt to return and play, noting that the Bucks star had already missed 36 games.
Milwaukee has also been pushing to focus on its star performer’s long-term health, but he rejected that approach and wished to resume play.
Udonis Haslem Suggests the Milwaukee Bucks Let Go of Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo, widely recognized as the “Greek Freak,” gained popularity for his phenomenal skills as a power forward and added an NBA Championship and an NBA Finals MVP to his résumé in 2021.
The 10x NBA All-Star has been the Bucks’ cornerstone for over a decade.
However, the 2025–26 season did not look promising for him whatsoever. Despite the Bucks starting off on a promising note, their momentum was derailed by Antetokounmpo’s calf injury, which forced him to miss 15 consecutive games.
The Bucks slid down the standings, and more bad luck followed when the Greek star was sidelined again due to a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. Having missed several games, the 31-year-old is in no mood to embark on an extensive healing journey.
Instead, Antetokounmpo wants to resume playing, despite the Bucks organization’s constant push to prioritize his health. In the 36 games he has played so far, he has averaged 27.6 points, 5.4 assists, and 9.8 rebounds.
“We’re just trying to get Giannis clear and healthy,” HC Doc Rivers had said earlier this week. “That’s our only focus. All the other stuff, we stay above.”
Amid this, Haslem, the vice president of basketball development for the Miami Heat, slammed Antetokounmpo and even suggested that the Bucks should let him go for good, as they could find another cornerstone soon.
“What the hell is he doing? You missed 37 games. You’ve only played 36. But you want to play the last 10 that don’t matter, and you won’t make the playoffs? HELL NO. That makes absolutely no sense… You will find love again, Milwaukee [if Giannis leaves], it is ok for you guys to part ways and not be any bad blood,” Haslem said.
The Bucks ended their playoff hopes after a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, marking the 44th defeat of their season, making it the first time since the 2015–16 season that they will miss the postseason.
Other eliminated teams include the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, and Indiana Pacers. With just nine games remaining in their regular-season schedule, the Bucks will continue to play the players at the bottom of the roster.
