Giannis Antetokounmpo Addresses Bucks' Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Reign Amurao | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 12:45 AM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks are glad to have Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup. The star forward missed eight straight games due to a right calf strain. The Greek Freak participated in his first game back on Saturday, helping the Bucks defeat the Chicago Bulls 112-103.

Having Antetokounmpo is a positive sign for Milwaukee, as they captured their second-straight win on Monday. The star forward had 24 points in 25 minutes to give the Bucks a 123-113 win against the Charlotte Hornets.

In his return after the victory, Antetokounmpo discussed the Bucks' strategy. The Greek two-time MVP told reporters on Saturday about the team's strategy to limit his minutes. Milwaukee wants the nine-time All-Star to avoid re-aggravating his calf injury.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34). Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Antetokounmpo said that his time limit might extend for a minimum of five to ten games. On Monday, he revealed his honest thoughts about being limited on the floor.

“I don’t like when I play with minutes restrictions. I hate that,” Antetokounmpo said. “I feel like I’m being rushed and I got to set the tone and put the game away. It’s such a short period of time.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting, dished out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds in 25 minutes in the Bucks' 123-113 win over the Hornets.

After the game, I asked him about the difficulty of playing on a minutes restriction. Here was his response: pic.twitter.com/1N5nlnzabR
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) December 30, 2025

Despite the limited playing time, the nine-time All-Star can still leave a lasting impact on the floor.

The Bucks star isn't the only one who needed time before he was incorporated into the lineup. San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was limited to 20 minutes and came off the bench for six straight games after recovering from a calf strain. The only difference is that Antetokounmpo was immediately inserted into the starting lineup.

The Bucks will face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday to close the year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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