Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo avoids serious injury, return unclear

The Milwaukee Bucks no longer have to wait on pins and needles regarding the status of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

After leaving the Bucks’ Game 4 loss to the Atlanta Hawks after a nasty landing and hyperextended his knee, Antetokounmpo has not suffered any structural damage to his knee, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.

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Antetokounmpo suffered the injury midway through the third quarter of Game 4 after trying to break up an eventual alley-oop for Hawks center Clint Capela and Antetokounmpo subsequently went down in an heap, clutching at his left knee.

While he eventually did walk off the court under his power, Antetokounmpo obviously didn’t return back to the game as the Bucks suffered their worst loss of this series.

There is no timetable for a return for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo

Considering the gravity of the situation and just the optics of Antetokounmpo’s injury, all Bucks fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing Antetokounmpo has avoided any grave injury. Even as a return this series and however long this playoff run goes for the Bucks is cast in doubt.

Knowing Antetokounmpo’s competitive fire and spirit, which was seen on display as he walked back to the bench briefly following his injury, it will be hard to keep Antetokounmpo off the court, especially with the Bucks’ season on the line. Just as Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer talked about after Tuesday night to the Associated Press:

"“I don’t want to speak for him,” Budenholzer said when asked what Antetokounmpo told his teammates when he briefly returned to the bench. “I know historically it’s impossible to keep him off the court, keep him away from his teammates. My guess is he wants to play and, if not, let his teammates know that he’s there for them.”"

It goes without saying that the Bucks will act and operate as if they will be without Antetokounmpo for the rest of the way this postseason, just as was the case last year down in the bubble.

But for the sake of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks organization and Bucks fans everywhere in Milwaukee and worldwide, we won’t be looking at a long, arduous rehabilitation and career-altering injury for the two-time MVP. Realistically speaking, it’s the best outcome we could have asked for after last night.