(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ahead of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks made a blockbuster trade to acquire superstar guard Damian Lillard, which many believed would be a game-changer for the franchise and make fellow superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo happy about the direction of the team.
Even though the addition of Lillard and the subtraction of Jrue Holiday would affect the team defensively, the Bucks were willing to make the move, as they believed it would move the needle enough to keep them in contention for a title on an annual basis.
The move instantly paid off with Antetokounmpo agreeing to a contract extension rather than continuing to threaten to leave if he didn’t see the same intensity he has within the locker room in Milwaukee.
Although the Bucks seem to be a better basketball team with two of the best players in the league leading the way, Milwaukee has had its fair share of ups and downs this season, with head coach Doc Rivers not exactly being a game-changer and the team now dealing with Antetokounmpo going down with a calf strain ahead of the NBA playoffs.
With Rivers getting a lot of grief for the team’s struggles lately, Chris Broussard of FOX Sports believes that Antetokounmpo’s injury is exactly what he needs to take the heat off him, via “First Things First.”
“Doc has been looking for an excuse,” Broussard said. “Unfortunately, he has a real one now.”
“Doc has been looking for an excuse. Unfortunately, he has a real one now.”
— @Chris_Broussard reacts to Giannis leaving Bucks-Celtics game with reported calf strain: pic.twitter.com/SF5hnXis41
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 10, 2024
With calf strains being tricky injuries that can linger and can result in Achilles tendon tears if the player rushes back too soon, there’s no telling when Antetokounmpo will get back on the floor, which obviously doesn’t bode well for Milwaukee’s chances in the postseason.
It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out and what impact they may have on Rivers’ tenure as head coach of the Bucks.
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