The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo disagree as to whether the star should sit out the remainder of the season, sources told The Athletic's Eric Nehm.
The Bucks reportedly believe it's in the best interests of both the player and the franchise for him to sit out. Milwaukee is 6.5 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final play-in tournament spot. However, Antetokounmpo reportedly told the team he doesn't want to cut his campaign short with 14 games remaining.
He's dealt with injuries all season and frequently played under a minutes limit, and he's currently sidelined with a hyperextended left knee. The 31-year-old hasn't been cleared to return to play, a team source told Nehm, but Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo's recent MRI didn't show any damage.
The 10-time All-Star played just over 23 minutes against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday but was declared out versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Rivers said Antetokounmpo could return Thursday against the Utah Jazz.
The Bucks listened to offers for Antetokounmpo leading up to the trade deadline but ultimately opted to keep the two-time MVP. Trade speculation is expected to resume this offseason, as the Greek superstar holds a player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
