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Giannis Antetokounmpo will be absent from the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.
ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported the development on Sunday, indicating that he is dealing with a mild calf strain.
The star forward will be sidelined for at least a week, marking the fourth consecutive game missed by the Milwaukee Bucks against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at Fiserv Forum in this week’s NBA Sunday lineup. Recent updates suggest he will also likely miss at least two additional games during the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season before making his return shortly after the All-Star break.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers confirmed the situation, stating, “We’ve just been monitoring it and it just hasn’t improved enough for us to play him. If this was a playoff game, would he play? Probably yes. But this is not and we want to make sure he’s ready for the playoffs.”
“We would love to have him back, but it’s essential to be prudent. Ultimately, his health takes precedence,” Rivers added.
After a busy offseason, during which he represented Greece at the 2024 Olympic Games, the nine-time All-Star has participated in 41 games while missing nine in the 2024-25 season. A prolonged absence due to injury jeopardizes his eligibility for the league’s annual awards, as players must appear in at least 65 games to qualify.
In his twelfth season with the Wisconsin-based team, Giannis has helped to secure a 27-23 record in the regular season, averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game.
The Bucks, who clinched the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup, currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, two games clear of the playoff cut line, positioning them well for the upcoming 2025 playoffs.
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