The NBA trade deadline may have taken an unexpected turn on Friday evening.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo left Friday night’s 102-100 loss to the Nuggets telling reporters after the game that he has a right calf or soleus strain.
He said he expects to miss four to six weeks and will undergo an MRI exam. He added that he believes tests will show he “popped something in his calf.”
Head coach Doc Rivers said after the game that he thought Antetokounmpo favored his calf for much of the second half.
“Personally, I didn’t like what my eyes saw,” Rivers said, according to CBS Sports. Giannis was defiant to stay in. At that play you could see him trying to run across the floor, I had had enough. I didn’t ask, but I took him out. He actually wanted to go back inside. That was a no for me.
“He knew he should have been gone. There was no disagreement or anything like that.”
Antetokounmpo left just 34.2 seconds into the game with the Bucks trailing by five. As for the next step, Rivers wasn’t sure, but he expressed concern.
“I don’t know yet, to be honest. He was in the medical room. I don’t think it looks great, personally. This calf keeps coming up and it’s concerning. I’m not a doctor, but I’m smart enough to know that his calf keeps bothering him and something is out there and it keeps happening, and that’s troublesome for all of us.”
Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists before leaving.
The nine-time All-Star has been part of a variety of trades this season, but with an injury that could sideline him in March, it could hinder a potential deal.
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