By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being out for three weeks, Giannis Antetokounmpo played 43 minutes over the next two games of the 2024-25 Regular Season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Moreover, fouling out against the Washington Wizards in Capital One Arena limited him to 19 minutes on Friday.
The injury setback forced the Freak to miss the All-Star Game 2025 in addition to sitting out six Bucks outings.
“I hadn’t played for like 18 days,” he started describing the current plan, after the meeting with the Wizards, “Trying to get my rhythm back. So slowly, slowly, I can get that. Get my wind back, get my rhythm back.”
Since coming back, the international superstar with Greece has been monitored by the medical staff and following guidelines during games. Contributing to two wins, he averaged 20.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest.
“I feel like anybody that’s been out with an injury for three weeks coming back will have a minute restriction. Which is kind of interesting for me because I have maybe one time or two times in my career I’ve had one game with a minute restriction,” said the experienced point forward, “I gotta do what I gotta do. I had the injury out of nowhere last year so just gotta be smart, take care of my body.”
Up to 31-24, the team coached by Doc Rivers ranks fifth in the standings of the Eastern Conference, 4.5 games safe inside the top-six zone attached to a guaranteed spot in the 2025 Playoffs.