The Milwaukee Bucks were banged up throughout the entire 2023-24 NBA season to the point that it felt like a curse had been placed on them.
It was so bad that their woes have now carried over into their off-season, as The Athletic NBA insider Shams Charania has reported that Thanasis Antetokounmpo has suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will now undergo surgery. This is one of the worst injuries for any athlete, and it puts question marks on Thanasis Antetokounmpo's basketball future.
Analyzing recovery timetable for Thanasis Antetokounmpo after devastating injury
Thanasis will not be on the basketball court anytime soon. According to 'The Achilles Tendon Rupture in Basketball: Systematic Review of the Present Literature,' Lemme et al published a study about 44 players who had ruptured their Achilles tendon in 48 years. In the study, the average recovery time was 10.5 months.
Medical terminology can be tricky, and it's still unclear if the injury is a rupture, partial tear, full-on tear or what exactly. No matter what, the plan is already for him to undergo surgery, and he will more than likely miss close to a year, as most players tend to do. Kevin Durant, perhaps the most famous player to suffer this injury recently, missed the 2019-20 season after suffering it in the 2019 NBA Finals.
This injury comes at a time when Thanasis was scheduled to enter NBA Free Agency, where it felt like the Bucks would aim to bring him back. This injury may cast some doubt on that idea, as it may be a head-scratching move to sign a player who will not be able to partake in basketball activites for most of the season, even if it is on a cheap deal.
He may just take a year off to get himself right and try to get back the following year.
Above all else, we are wishing for a speedy recovery for Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Knowing his fight and desire, he'll be pushing to get back on the court as soon as possible. We'll be sure to document his progress.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.