After not being in person for media day due to COVID-19, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been cleared to return to the United States. Once he arrives from Greece, the Greek Freak will join his teammates in Miami for Milwaukee Bucks training camp. With that, everyone will be there, participating, and building chemistry with one another ahead of the season.
The new-look Bucks are healthy and ready to roll
"Everyone is healthy, including Giannis... Everyone else will be available as well for camp, but we did have some offseason surgeries and things like you always have, but guys are all fully recovered and ready to go," said general manager Jon Horst at Bucks media day.
That soundbite is music to the ears of Milwaukee Bucks fans everywhere. For years now, injuries have been the boogeyman for the team. It's beyond welcoming to hear that the roster is good to go as they open training camp. With so many questions about who fits where, Doc Rivers will have the luxury of utilizing everyone at his disposal to test his theories.
Now, there may be an asterisk next to the word "everyone" here. After camp on Thursday, Rivers told reporters that Cole Anthony did not go through contact in practice as a precautionary measure. When asked what was wrong with the guard, Rivers wouldn't reveal. Given that he's doing everything without contact, this hopefully won't be a long-term issue for Anthony. This will be worth monitoring.
Among those to undergo surgery this offseason was Ryan Rollins, who played through most of last season with an injured shoulder. With the surgery and rehab complete, Rollins will look to build off of his breakout year with an even bigger campaign. Rollins isn't well-known in many NBA circles, but that could change this coming season now that he's healthy.
Over the last two summers, former Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton underwent surgery that put question marks around his availability for the new season. It was always a tricky situation because the team clearly didn't want to rush him back but also needed him. This season, Middleton won't be there, as he's now with the Washington Wizards. That looming uncertainty is no longer present.
Now, the key is staying healthy. Obviously, there are some things players cannot control, but they must do what they can. That is especially true for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who didn't take the summer off due to playing for Greece in EuroBasket. Given how hard he plays, the Milwaukee Bucks cannot afford to let Giannis burn himself out, which would put significant wear and tear on his body.
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