Giannis’ abbreviated showing
Throughout the Bucks’ fantastic start, the topic of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s individual play has made the rounds throughout Bucks fan circles, given how erratic and extreme it’s been to this point by his very high standards.
On Saturday night, though, Bucks fans were left asking different questions as it related to Antetokounmpo.
All of it stemmed from Antetokounmpo getting popped in the face by a strong elbow from Magic forward Aaron Gordon in the opening minutes of the contest, which unsurprisingly left the Greek phenom a bit dazed for the following few minutes. But Antetokounmpo would return to action after that time and finish out the first half with no noticeable after effects.
Reasonable concerns returned when play in the second half opened up without Antetokounmpo on the floor, as he stayed back in the Bucks’ locker room. Updates from both Bucks sideline reporter Katie George and the Fox Sports Wisconsin broadcast followed until Giannis strolled back to the bench at the start of the fourth quarter.
Even with the game having swung firmly in the Bucks’ favor at that point, Antetokounmpo got some brief run for a few minutes in the period to put a bow on his unusual performance.
After the game, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Ben Steele that the medical staff was just being cautious with the 23-year-old while Antetokounmpo admitted he blacked out after getting dinged by Gordon and passed the concussion tests while in the locker room.
Coach Bud said team was just being extra cautious with Giannis by sending him back to training room to get checked out during third quarter. Said got hit by elbow by Gordon under basket.
— Ben Steele (@BenSteeleMJS) October 28, 2018
Giannis said he blacked out after taking elbow to head. Doesn’t remember much from game but said all tests for concussions were OK and he was allowed back out in fourth.
— Ben Steele (@BenSteeleMJS) October 28, 2018
All in all, Antetokounmpo ended up finishing with a team-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field (3-for-4 from the foul line), seven rebounds, four turnovers, one assist as well as one block and was a +14 in his abbreviated showing.
In what was ironically his most efficient scoring night so far this season, hopefully that can be extrapolated when Giannis gets full burn and it’ll be important to monitor whether any concussion symptoms may surface in the coming hours and days.