Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury leaves Bucks season in jeopardy

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA’s top rising stars for the Milwaukee Bucks, but it’s possible if fears do come true that his latest injury might end his season. Against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, with Milwaukee leading the series 2-1, the Greek Freak went down awkwardly after going for a rebound late in the third quarter on his leg, and from what was shown in both real-time and the replay, it did not look good.

Judging from the video alone (you can look that up yourself, we won’t link it here) and seeing the hurt in his face, it’s enough for you to cover your eyes and pray beyond words that he’s going to be ok. Antetokounmpo did manage to leave the court with his brother Thanasis helping him off, but the big question now turns to the rest of the Bucks players. What now?

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA’s top rising stars, but it’s possible if fears do come true that his latest injury might end his season.

The series may be tied 2-2, but the Atlanta Hawks just took Game 4 over with ease in the end. With Young out, Cam Reddish and Kevin Huerter stepped up for Atlanta and brought new life into Nate McMillan’s team.

Also, Atlanta is without their budding star in Trae Young, who was declared out for Game 4 with a bone bruise in his foot, and the time of his return is not yet known. Is it possible for the second year in a row that the team representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals will be injury-riddled? The Miami Heat last year, for those who forget, did not have players such as Bam Adebayo or Goran Dragic playing for much of the series, a 4-2 loss to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

It doesn’t take a writer, coach, or even a player to know that without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks will be facing a heavy hurdle to climb. Though Khris Middleton is a star in his own right, he’ll have to bear a heavy load if Giannis isn’t back for the rest of the conference finals, or even the NBA Finals if Milwaukee can get by Atlanta.

The big question of all is, how will head coach Mike Budenholzer respond to a situation that would have any head coach feeling both anxious and nervous? Budenholzer has struggled in these parts of the season, and another loss in the conference finals could very well affect his future. However, he will have to get through those notions without his star player, as the injury means Antetokounmpo will likely be out for a period of time.

With Game 5 coming up in their house and potentially a Game 7 also in their building, the Bucks are now in a position where it would be wise to end the series early instead of dragging it on.

Nevertheless, you hate to see a player like Giannis go down. He brings a lot of energy to the game, and he’s a new face that most NBA fans would love to see compete for a title in a small market like Milwaukee. His injury, however, has a possibility of not seeing that dream come true.

Best wishes to Giannis Antetokounmpo on a speedy recovery.