The Milwaukee Bucks were already in a precarious position in the Eastern Conference, and Friday night made things worse. A narrow 102–100 loss to the Denver Nuggets not only impacted their standings but also brought renewed attention to a persistent injury issue affecting the team’s cornerstone player.
Uncertainty has replaced optimism. The timeline came directly from the source. Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t sugarcoat his words. What he said after the game completely altered the Bucks’ season outlook.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Expects Extended Absence After Calf Injury Setback
Milwaukee’s season took a sharp turn when Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed he expects to miss four to six weeks after re-injuring his right calf. The injury flared up late in Friday’s loss, forcing the 31-year-old to leave with just 34 seconds remaining.
Despite clearly lacking explosiveness throughout the night, the two-time MVP stayed on the floor. That decision came at a cost. An MRI was scheduled for Saturday, but Antetokounmpo made it clear he’s been here before, and the outcome feels familiar.
“Probably the next steps will be to go to an MRI tomorrow. After the MRI, they’ll tell me probably I popped something in my calf, in my soleus, something. They’ll probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks that I’ll be out. This is from my experience being around the NBA. After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back. That will probably be end of February, beginning of March.”
"Probably the next steps will be to go to (an) MRI tomorrow. After the MRI, they’ll tell me, probably, I popped something in my calf, in my soleus, something. They’ll probably give me a protocol of 4-6 weeks that I’ll be out."
– Giannis Antetokounmpo 🙏pic.twitter.com/5csTNjaqNc https://t.co/TBnxwGipP3
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 24, 2026
The Bucks forward finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, but admitted he couldn’t push off his toes and was mainly running on his heel. When the calf “popped,” he couldn’t walk.
Antetokounmpo first injured the same calf on December 3, missed eight games, and returned on December 27 under a minutes restriction. Last season, a left calf strain sidelined him for weeks and kept him out of the playoffs entirely. Head coach Doc Rivers didn’t hide his concern.
“I don’t think it looks great, honestly. This calf keeps coming up and it’s concerning. There’s something there. It keeps happening. That’s troublesome for all of us.” Doc Rivers said.
With the February trade deadline approaching, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence may not just affect team lineups but also front-office moves. Should the MRI indicate that the anticipated period of absence was realistic, the Milwaukee Brewers may not see one of their best until as late as February or March. Yet another problem for a team that is already having issues.
