MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo says he can no longer rush back from injuries the way he once did, as the Milwaukee Bucks star adjusts to the realities of turning 31.
The two-time MVP returned Monday night with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the Bucks’ 108–81 loss to the Boston Celtics. It was his first game since straining his right calf on January 23.
Antetokounmpo has missed a career-high 29 games this season, including 23 due to calf injuries — a stark contrast to earlier in his career when he regularly beat recovery timelines.
“I’ve just got to be smarter moving forward,” Antetokounmpo said. “Things I was able to do in the past maybe I’m not able to do now. I’ve got to be more methodical with my rehab.”
During Milwaukee’s 2021 championship run, he missed only two games with a hyperextended knee and went on to score 50 points in the title-clinching Game 6 against the Phoenix Suns.
This season, however, soft-tissue injuries have lingered. The Bucks are 15–16 with Antetokounmpo and 11–18 without him, currently sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference — outside the playoff picture.
Despite speculation about his long-term future, Antetokounmpo says he’s focused on staying healthy.
“I’m just happy that I’m on the court,” he said. “I try not to take nothing for granted.”
