Earlier this week, the NBA Players Association (NBPA) released a statement criticizing the Milwaukee Bucks over their alleged intention to sideline Giannis Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season due to his recent injury:
“The Player Participation Policy was designed to ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis is healthy, he’s on the court. Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on new proposals to address and discourage tanking.”
Now, let's dive into Giannis' injury timeline this season. He first suffered a groin strain in November, projected to be out 1-2 weeks, but returned in 11 days.
Then, a calf strain in December sidelined him for 4-6 weeks, but he was back in 24 days. After reinjuring the calf in January, he adhered to the 4-6 week timeline, missing about five weeks.
Following that, he rolled his ankle on March 10 against Phoenix, which clearly affected him, yet he missed no games. His latest setback is a hyperextended knee and another ankle roll.
It’s safe to say he might not be at full strength.
The NBPA suggests that Milwaukee is benching Giannis to tank and lose games. It seems more likely that Giannis wants to play, while the front office prefers caution, possibly leading him to involve the players association to apply pressure.
Given Giannis' history of returning quickly from injuries, his credibility in this area might be questioned. According to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, the team maintains that Giannis isn’t healthy, which is the current official stance.
Perhaps Giannis is ready to play, and the team is being cautious, but this likely has more to do with preserving his health for a critical offseason rather than tanking, as the NBPA claims. A serious injury could derail Milwaukee’s future plans. While a fine from the NBA might seem excessive, ensuring Giannis’ health is a priority worth any penalty.
The notion that Milwaukee is tanking is far-fetched. The Bucks haven’t manipulated the injury report, as evidenced by Giannis’ quick returns. If the Jazz, for instance, had a similar situation with Lauri Markkanen, he might have been sidelined much longer.
Milwaukee has consistently played their young guards extensively, resulting in Kevin Porter Jr. sitting out due to knee issues. They’ve closed games with their best unit, even at a political cost. The NBPA surely knows which teams have been fielding third-string units to tank, right?
Moreover, Milwaukee doesn’t even have a clear incentive to tank, as they don’t own their first-round pick outright. Finishing below New Orleans could mean a draft swap, making losing a non-viable strategy. While the Pelicans' struggles have eased the pressure on Bucks fans, losing was never the goal.
Now, with few games left, there might be some incentive to tank, but it’s a recent development. If Milwaukee decides to do so, they should have that right, especially with several teams below them tanking for months.
Some started before the All-Star break! The NBPA’s focus on the Bucks seems misplaced.
In summary, the NBPA’s statement seems misguided. The real tankers are out there, and Milwaukee isn’t one of them.