BEVERLY HILLS, April 30, (THEWILL) – The National Basketball Association (NBA) star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference, had to leave Thursday’s game against the Houston Rockets due to an ankle sprain he sustained on his right leg.
He featured for only 46 seconds, when he stepped on the Kelly Olynyk and, unfortunately rolled on his tender ankle, which was already injured, and made it worse. He could not continue after he returned from the locker room with a limp and took to the bench to set out the game, which the Bucks unfortunately lost 143-136.
A left knee soreness had forced Antetokounmpo to miss six games earlier this month. This ankle sprain could mean that the two-time MVP will be out of contention for more games now. The forward initially suffered a left knee sprain in late March but missed only one game before returning to the team.
The 26-year-old has averaged 28.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on a good day and still is one of the best performers in the NBA. He had previously enjoyed an injury-free career and never missed more than 10 regular-season games in any of his first seven years of professional basketball.
However, in the 2020 postseason playoffs, an ankle injury sidelined the Greek-Nigerian taking him off the Bucks squad, which made it easier for them to be eliminated from the second round playoffs by the Miami Heat.
As that example illustrated, the Bucks are shorthanded in Antetokounmpo’s absence as the gap piles extra pressure on other players like Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, who are immediately tasked with more offensive responsibilities. Until he can return to active play, his sibling Thanasis, and power forward Bobby Portis will be charged with holding the forte in his place.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
