Bucks GM Addresses Giannis Antetokounmpo Standoff After NBA Investigation

The Milwaukee Bucks are in a public battle with franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo. After a season filled with losing games and trade rumors, the Bucks have restricted Giannis from making an on-court return for the last month despite the Greek forward wanting to play.

The Bucks haven't cleared Antetokounmpo's knee for in-game activity, which some believe may be a violation of the NBA's player participation policy, especially since Antetokounmpo has publicly claimed he's healthy and is being held out.

As a result, the Bucks are currently under investigation by the NBA, while Antetokounmpo hopes to return and play alongside his two brothers, Alex and Thanasis, before the season ends.

Given the backlash against the Bucks for not letting Giannis play over potential tanking concerns on top of his injury, Bucks GM Jon Horst has addressed the situation with great detail to The Athletic and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

“He’s not cleared to play yet in a game. And we’re going to continue to evaluate it. I don’t know what the outcome in that world will be, but the only lens has been to make our best professional judgment for him and for us. And it has nothing to do with draft picks. It has nothing to do with tanking. It has everything to do with the health of the player.”

“Listen, I think he’s been working to get himself back because he wants to play, and I love that he wants to play. And I think we are continuously on a day-by-day basis evaluating, in our professional judgment, whether or not that’s the right thing and the lens is his health. And that’s what’s best for the organization.”

“He wants to play and has been rehabbing. That’s one of the many reasons he’s great,” Horst said. “We haven’t cleared him yet for a game, but will continue to evaluate.”