Giannis Antetokounmpo came back too soon from his adductor injury this season, which likely led to the soleus injury he is dealing with right now. The Milwaukee Bucks forward likely should have sat out a bit longer to fully heal, but that did not happen. Perhaps that was because it was clear that this team needed him to keep its head above water.
Two weeks into his recovery period, the Greek Freak spoke to reporters about the injury and why he likely won't rush back this time.
"The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load or play a lot of games in a short period of time."
Bucks have to find a way to survive without Giannis for a few more weeks
The initial timetable for Giannis' return was two to four weeks. After hearing that he returned too early from his adductor injury, it sounds like four to six weeks is more realistic. That means the Milwaukee Bucks will likely have to go another month without their superstar. Considering that they are just 2-9 in games without him from start to finish this season, things could get ugly. Fast.
This next month could be one of the most pivotal periods in Bucks history. If the losses keep piling up and playoff hopes dim, will Giannis want to return? There has been plenty of chatter in recent weeks that his time with the franchise could be coming to an end if things don't turn around soon. Unless a complete 180 happens overnight, the Bucks haven't provided much hope that they can right this ship.
It's clear that this iteration of the Milwaukee Bucks might be coming to an end. The team has already been mentioned in a flurry of trade rumors. Whether it's for Zach LaVine, Jerami Grant, or someone else who has yet to be mentioned, the Bucks are leaving no stone unturned. They think a trade could be the shot in the arm to get this team back on track.
There's also the elephant in the room: Doc Rivers. The Milwaukee Bucks aren't a well-coached team. It's that simple. The systems are stale. The rotations are mind-boggling. An offseason full of roster changes felt like it might lead to a turnaround, but truly, when the same mindset and authority are calling the shots, it's tough to expect many significant changes.
The Milwaukee Bucks have four weeks before things potentially take a turn for the worse. Will Giannis come back to a team whose playoff hopes are still kicking, or will even a Herculean force like himself not even be able to save what's left? Right now, there are no clear answers for the Milwaukee Bucks.
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