Milwaukee Bucks two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the team’s six-game, first-round playoff series loss against the Indiana Pacers due to a calf strain.
Antetokounmpo and head coach Doc Rivers conducted exit interviews on Friday, and both were asked about how close the eight-time All-Star was to returning to action. They had very different answers.
Rivers’ response seems the opposite of what Antetokounmpo claimed when he indicated that he “wasn’t even close.” One would think the player would know their body better than anyone regarding a return from injury, but the medical staff has a huge say in a potential comeback.
It’s also curious that Rivers said he wasn’t sure if fellow eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard “should have played” in Game 6 on Thursday. Lillard missed Games 4 and 5 with an Achilles ailment.
It sounds like Rivers felt Lillard was healthy enough to play, but things were out of sync for much of Thursday’s contest. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers star finished the loss with 28 points on 7-for-16 shooting (4-for-12 on three-pointers) with just four assists against three turnovers.
Small forward Khris Middleton stepped up big for Milwaukee, which was without Antetokounmpo for all six games and Lillard for two contests.
The three-time All-Star was one of the NBA’s best players in the first round of the playoffs, averaging 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 38.3 minutes over the six contests with a .482/.355/.900 shooting line.