The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t just drop a heartbreaker in Denver on Friday night - they may have lost their franchise cornerstone for the next several weeks.
With just seconds left in a 102-100 loss to the Nuggets, Giannis Antetokounmpo came up limping, clearly favoring his right calf. It was a concerning sight, especially considering he’d already exited earlier in the game to receive treatment in the locker room. But in classic Giannis fashion, he pushed to return, determined to give his team a chance in a game that had once looked out of reach.
And he nearly pulled it off.
The two-time MVP poured in 14 of his 22 points in the second half, trying to will Milwaukee back from a 23-point deficit. It was vintage Giannis - relentless, physical, and emotionally charged. But this time, the comeback fell just short.
Now the Bucks, sitting at 18-26, are staring down the possibility of another extended stretch without their best player. After the game, Giannis spoke candidly about the injury and the road ahead. Based on his own history with similar issues, he estimated a return in roughly 4-6 weeks - likely late February or early March.
“I’m gonna work my butt off to come back,” he said. “Hopefully, the team, we’re in a place where we can at least make the Play-In or make the playoffs.”
That’s the goal - stay afloat until the big man returns.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. The Bucks are currently 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the 10th seed in the East, the final Play-In Tournament spot.
Without Giannis, that gap could widen fast. This team has already struggled to find its footing this season, and losing its engine - the guy who sets the tone on both ends of the floor - makes the climb that much steeper.
There’s also been noise around Giannis’ future in Milwaukee, with trade rumors swirling as the deadline approaches. But for now, those remain just that - noise.
Both Giannis and the Bucks have publicly expressed their commitment to one another. And based on Giannis’ own words after the game, he’s planning on being back in a Bucks uniform when he returns from injury.
What happens between now and then will shape the rest of the season. Can Milwaukee tread water without him? Can they find enough production from their supporting cast to stay in the mix?
One thing’s for sure - if the Bucks are still in the hunt when Giannis gets back, he’ll be ready to go. And if there’s anyone you’d bet on to power through adversity and lead a late-season push, it’s the guy who tried to carry his team back on one leg.