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Giannis Antetokounmpo Won't Play for Bucks vs. Jazz Because of Knee Injury
Dec 17, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 7: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 7, 2022 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Saturday's game against the Utah Jazz.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer announced before tipoff the two-time NBA MVP is dealing with rest with soreness in his left knee.
While Antetokounmpo has been durable for much of his career and appeared in at least 61 games in each of his first nine seasons, he missed time during EuroBasket in September with knee discomfort and was sidelined with knee soreness in November.
Any health concerns for Antetokounmpo will be amplified, given his overall importance to the Bucks' championship hopes.
The six-time All-Star is arguably the best player in the league and someone who can take over games on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. His ability to overpower defenders on his way to the rim while shutting down the opponent's best players is unmatched in today's game, and much of what Milwaukee does on the court runs through him.
He is averaging 30.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 steals in 24 games in 2022-23.
The Bucks can't realistically hope to replicate his impact if he is sidelined, but they can turn to the combination of Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez and Serge Ibaka for more playing time in the frontcourt as they attempt to tread water without their biggest star.
LeBron James, Anthony Davis Thrill NBA Twitter in Lakers' Epic Win vs. Giannis, Bucks
Dec 3, 2022
MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 2: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 2, 2022 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images).
The Los Angeles Lakers opened their six-game Eastern Conference road trip on a high note, taking down the Milwaukee Bucks 133-129 at Fiserv Forum on Friday to improve to 9-12 on the 2022-23 season.
The victory was fueled by Anthony Davis, who posted 44 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 40 minutes. He made 18 of 27 shots from the floor and two of his three shots from deep.
LeBron James was also key in the victory. He posted 28 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes. He made 12 of 27 shots from the floor and three of his six shots from deep.
Russell Westbrook had a solid game off the bench, finishing with 15 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in 29 minutes. However, it was the performances of Davis and James that sent Twitter into a frenzy:
Not only was the Best game that I’ve seen AD, Bron and Russ play together in a Lakers uniform but it also was their most Impressive win!!! Carry the hell on…
This AD tonite is an MVP candidate. He was the best player on the court even with 2 guys with 6 regular season mvp awards and 5 finals mvps. Go argue with homies. I’m busy celebrating #LakerNation#lakerswin
Easily the win of the season, the Lakers triumph 133-129 on the road against Milwaukee in a game that always finds a way to be a measuring stick. AD with 44 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron with 28p, 11a, 8r. Russ with 15p, 11a, 7r. Great effort highlighting the best of the stars.
The Lakers have now won seven of their last nine games and appear to be trending upward. If they can continue to claim victories on this road trip, they could be back in the playoff picture.
The Purple and Gold will be back in action Sunday against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena before facing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Says Lakers' LeBron James Remains Face of NBA
Nov 14, 2022
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 20: LeBron James #6 and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of Team LeBron celebrate after defeating Team Durant 163-160 during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP and an NBA champion, but the Milwaukee Bucks star still thinks the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James is the preeminent name in the league.
Asked by teammate Serge Ibaka whether he's the face of the NBA, Antetokounmpo said he believes he's one of the faces but that he's not the face.
"LeBron's still playing," he said (6:59 of the video below) on Ibaka's show How Hungry Are You?
Antetokounmpo also listed the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant, Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokić, Dallas Mavericks' Luka Dončić and Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid as worthy competition based on their profiles.
To Giannis' point, James arguably remains in a class by himself into his 20th season.
Through the first half of the 2021-22 season, James had the highest-selling jersey in the league and stayed there through the second half of the campaign. That was despite the Lakers losing 49 games and missing the playoffs.
Los Angeles also got the second-most national television games when the NBA rolled out its 2022-23 schedule, which is owed partially to James' star power.
Sooner or later, LeBron will walk away from basketball. When that happens, Antetokounmpo is a natural candidate to succeed him as the NBA's biggest headliner.
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Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Out vs. Thunder with Knee Injury Described as Soreness
Nov 9, 2022
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 119-108. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Wednesday's game at the Oklahoma City Thunder because of left knee soreness.
The two-time NBA MVP missed Milwaukee's 108-94 win over the Thunder last Saturday for the same reason. He was originally considered questionable, so the team erred on the side of caution.
Antetokounmpo is poised to be an MVP contender once again. The Bucks are 9-0 despite Khris Middleton missing time from his offseason wrist surgery, and the Greek Freak is a big reason why.
Through nine appearances, he's averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3W2s2sExPY
Antetokounmpo is crucial to Milwaukee's hopes of winning a second title in three seasons. The roster is collectively strong enough to where it can manage without him for a game or two in the regular season, though.
In the aforementioned Thunder game, Bobby Portis took Antetokounmpo's place in the lineup and finished with 12 points and 21 rebounds.
As long as Giannis' knee trouble doesn't portend a more serious problem, the Bucks shouldn't be panicking.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Out for Bucks vs. Thunder Because of Knee Injury
Nov 5, 2022
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff series Friday, May 13, 2022, in Milwaukee. The Celtics won 108-95 to tie the series at 3-3. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Saturday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of left knee soreness.
Any injury to the 27-year-old, big or small, is going to be a concern in Milwaukee, and for good reason. He is a two-time MVP, six-time All-Star, the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time first-team All-NBA selection.
Oh, and he led the Bucks to a title in the 2020-21 season.
Antetokounmpo has also continued to improve, averaging an impressive 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals in the 2021-22 season. It was a testament to the strong seasons of Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid that he finished a distant third in the MVP voting to that pair.
While perimeter shooting remains his one weakness—he came into this season shooting 28.8 percent from beyond the arc—Antetokounmpo showed improvement at the free-throw line last year, bumping his average back up to 72.2 percent after dipping below 70 percent the previous two seasons.
The 2013 first-round pick did give the Bucks a scare in early September, leaving a EuroBasket game for Greece with an ankle problem. While he was seen limping after that game, national head coach Dimitris Itoudis played down the injury.
Antetokounmpo is one of the truly unique players in the NBA, and his impact for the Bucks is immense, so replacing him is impossible. On Saturday, look for Bobby Portis to take his place in the starting lineup.
