Shortly into his first action with the Milwaukee Bucks, Gary Trent Jr. went down with injury, holding his elbow in pain before swiftly exiting the game.
The Bucks went on to lose the preseason game against the Detroit Pistons, but the bigger story was the status of Trent moving forward. Having suffered a hyperextension, there were questions whether he'd miss time to recover. Following Milwaukee's practice on Wednesday, Trent downplayed any idea of him missing time for the Milwaukee Bucks, even in the preseason.
"It was just a play where I got caught. Hyperextension, strained the ligament a little bit. Nothing too crazy. Pulled and came back, but it's good though. Some ice, recovery and it'll be fine."
Trent, showcasing his toughness, stated that his goal is to be ready for Milwaukee's next preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bucks' Gary Trent Jr. flexes toughness following injury
Trent could have very well sat out for the remainder of the preseason. However, wanting to establish more chemistry with his teammates and make a strong impression, he's aiming to bounce back from this injury as soon as possible. Sure, it may have looked worse at the moment than it actually was, but a hyperextension is no minor injury in any sense.
Since landing in Milwaukee earlier this summer, Trent has been pumping out strong quotes every time he gets a microphone in front of him. At Bucks Media Day, he constantly talked about his desire to win and how he was willing to do whatever it took to do it. Trent spoke about how he was grateful for the opportunity to be in Milwaukee, and he's clearly cherishing it, toughing it out to play in the preseason.
It's beyond welcoming that Gary Trent Jr. might miss no time at all with his injury, as the Bucks need him healthy in their quest for an NBA Championship. The guard is set to play a sizeable role for them this coming season, with the preseason opener almost guaranteeing he will be the starting shooting guard in 2024-25. In that role, his shooting, defense and toughness will all be pivotal factors.
With Trent healthy and likely to play in the preseason, the prominent injury question marks divert to Khris Middleton. He is recovering after duel ankle surgeries this offseason, and while Doc Rivers said he may play in the preseason, he couldn't guarantee it. It would be excellent if the Milwaukee Bucks could get everyone on the floor for at least one or two preseason outings, but time will tell.
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