There seems to have been some miscommunication between Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers and star player Giannis Antetokounmpo regarding the latter’s injury status.
Antetokounmpo sat out all six games of the Bucks’ first-round series against the Indiana Pacers due to a calf injury. Although the injury wasn’t considered season-ending, the Bucks had expressed “significant concern” about Antetokounmpo’s health before the series commenced.
In the buildup to Game 6, which ended in the Bucks’ elimination, Rivers suggested that Antetokounmpo was “close” to returning. This sentiment was reiterated by the seasoned coach during his post-season media interview on Friday.
Rivers informed reporters that Antetokounmpo “was really close” to making a comeback. He also mentioned uncertainty about whether the Bucks star would have been cleared had the team pushed for a Game 7, but Rivers felt the decision “would have been to the deadline.”
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Antetokounmpo also addressed reporters on Friday regarding his recovery progress. The two-time MVP didn’t exude the same confidence as Rivers regarding his chances of returning during the series.
“I wasn’t even close to checking all the boxes, but I was trying to push myself… to reach a point where maybe I don’t tick all the boxes, but I can still contribute. However, in our view, it wasn’t safe for me to be out there because I couldn’t run at full speed,” Antetokounmpo conceded.
“It might take a few days, weeks, or even months, I don’t know how long it will take to get back to where I need to be.”
Antetokounmpo’s teammate Damian Lillard also missed two games in the series due to injury. However, Lillard managed to return for Game 6, which ultimately ended in a 120-98 loss for the Bucks.
