The National Basketball Players Association issued a statement Tuesday criticizing the Milwaukee Bucks for their reported efforts to shut superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo down for the rest of the season and the NBA for failing to step in.
"The player participation policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court," the statement said, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
"Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking."
Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined with a left knee injury but has reportedly been cleared to play and wants to do so. The 10-time All-Star and the Bucks reportedly disagree on whether he should sit out the remainder of the season. The team apparently believes it's in the best interest of both parties to shut down the 31-year-old, who's frequently played on a minutes limit this season due to various injuries.
The two-time MVP holds a player option for the 2027-28 campaign. Milwaukee listened to offers for Antetokounmpo leading up to the trade deadline but opted to keep him.
The Bucks have 11 games remaining in the 2025-26 season. At 29-42, they are tied with the Chicago Bulls for 11th in the Eastern Conference and sit eight games back of the Charlotte Hornets for the final play-in spot.
