Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Out For All-Star Game, Could Miss Multiple Weeks

A mild calf strain will sideline Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo for at least the next week, ruling him out of the upcoming NBA All-Star Game, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Antetokounmpo, who has not played since February 2, is expected to return shortly after the All-Star break. However, NBA insider Chris Haynes reports that some league sources believe his absence could extend to two or three weeks, adding uncertainty to the timeline of his recovery.

Antetokounmpo’s injury has already had an impact on the Bucks’ performance. The team has lost two of the three games he has missed since suffering the strain and has dropped six of its last eight overall.

As a result, Milwaukee has slid to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, only two games ahead of seventh-place Miami in the race for a guaranteed playoff spot.

Any calf injury is a cause for concern for Antetokounmpo, who missed last year’s playoff series against Indiana due to a left soleus strain. While no official timetable for his return has been set, the Bucks are likely to take a cautious approach to avoid further aggravating the injury.

Antetokounmpo, a nine-time All-Star, was voted by fans as a starter for this year’s game in the East. With his absence now confirmed, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will appoint a replacement to fill his spot in the All-Star lineup. Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is believed to be among the candidates. Or perhaps Hawks guard Trae Young, depending on if Silver elects to go smaller.

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