Giannis Antetokounmpo has made it crystal clear that he wants to play, even if the Milwaukee Bucks have been eliminated from postseason contention. Despite saying he's healthy, the Bucks have held him out, and Giannis is far from happy. He went as far as to voice his frustration to reporters leading up to Milwaukee's matchup against the Boston Celtics on Friday.
"For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
“I don’t know what game is being played right here, I just don’t wanna be a part of it.”
Giannis is unhappy, but the Bucks aren't wrong
Sitting out indeed goes against Giannis' nature. Even if there is nothing at stake, he wants to be out on the floor, especially if he has an opportunity to play with two of his brothers. In recent weeks, the big holdup was his health. Doc Rivers said again and again that Giannis wasn't healthy. Well, Giannis is now saying that he is. Someone isn't telling the truth.
ESPN's Shams Charania just confirmed this. Per the insider, the NBA is conducting an investigation into Giannis' health, and different stories are coming in. Milwaukee is saying Giannis isn't ready and does not want to play. Giannis is saying that he wants to play, but the team will not clear him. Something is going on here, and it's getting ugly.
Even if Giannis is completely healthy, the Milwaukee Bucks aren't exactly wrong to be cautious with him. The Greek Freak has battled multiple calf strains, an adductor issue, and a knee hyperextension this season alone. Why would they gleefully welcome him back into the lineup with nothing to play for except another possible injury?
Whether they want to keep him or trade him, there is zero benefit to throwing Giannis on the floor in what was a lost season a long time ago.
This disconnect could set up a divorce
Giannis suddenly has his reason to finally ask out of Milwaukee. Knowing how much he wants to play, holding him out, if he is indeed fully healthy, could be the ultimate back-stabbing in his eyes. There were plenty of rumors that he genuinely considered playing elsewhere this season, and everything now going on could only pour gasoline on that fire.
Even if Giannis does ultimately request a trade, at least the Milwaukee Bucks will be able to assure any interested teams that the star is healthy after an injury-riddled campaign. If he were to get on the floor now, they risk him suffering yet another injury in a season that has already claimed the most games of his NBA career.
There's no telling how things will end up. Do the Bucks cave and let Giannis play? Do they keep their foot down and hold him out, knowing it could be the final nail in this coffin? What will the NBA find in its ongoing investigation into the matter? There's simply no telling right now, but all signs point to this saga getting even uglier by the day.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.