Giannis Antetokounmpo Faces Mysterious 2-to-4 Week Hiatus: What This Means for Bucks’ Championship Hopes

The basketball world caught its breath and then held it tight Wednesday when Giannis Antetokounmpo—yes, the Greek Freak himself—collapsed on the court during the first quarter without any contact. The sight of him limping off to the locker room sent shockwaves through Milwaukee Bucks fans everywhere. Soon after, the dreaded news confirmed what no one wanted to hear: Giannis was sidelined with a right calf strain, expected to be out for two to four weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Now, while this keeps the door open for a return this season, the timing couldn’t be worse for both Giannis and the Bucks, who are already grappling with a rocky start and uncertain future. The stakes are sky-high as the team—and Giannis—navigate this latest hurdle that might just reshape the fate of the franchise in the coming weeks. LEARN MORE

Milwaukee Bucks fans held their collective breath Wednesday after superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped to the floor with a non-contact injury in the first quarter. Antetokounmpo limped to the team’s locker room and was eventually ruled out due to a calf strain.

After hours of uncertainty, those fans finally know how long Antetokounmpo will be out. The Bucks star will reportedly miss two-to-four weeks due to a right calf strain, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be sidelined for approximately 2 to 4 weeks with a right calf strain, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/k5TyjEo6Eh

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 4, 2025

While Antetokounmpo will miss time, the issue could have been worse. Had Antetokounmpo injured his Achilles, he could have faced a season-ending surgery.

Despite losing Antetokounmpo early, the shorthanded Bucks rallied to pick up a 113-109 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Antetokounmpo’s injury comes at the worst possible time for the Bucks. Early Wednesday, a report emerged suggesting Antetokounmpo and the Bucks started conversations focused on the star’s future with the franchise. While Antetokounmpo has remained loyal to the Bucks over his career, he’s also been open about wanting to compete for championships.

Antetokounmpo had a decision to make about his future during the offseason, but ultimately decided to see if the re-tooled Bucks could make some noise in the East. But that dream may already be over with the team out to a 10-13 start, causing both Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to re-evaluate his situation.

Wednesday’s injury still leaves open the possibility of an Antetokounmpo trade this season. The NBA trade deadline doesn’t take place until February, meaning Antetokounmpo should be back on the court as long as he doesn’t sustain any setbacks.

That’s far from a guarantee, as calf injuries have proven to be pretty worrisome in the NBA. Last season, both Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton experienced calf injuries before rupturing their Achilles tendons. Jayson Tatum also reportedly was dealing with a calf issue prior to rupturing his Achilles tendon during a game.

The timeline of those injuries has caused NBA teams to take extreme caution with calf issues this season. The San Antonio Spurs shut down star Victor Wembanyama longer than expected when it was discovered he was battling a calf issue.

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Through 17 games, the 30-year-old Antetokounmpo was still producing at a high level. He’s averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists. After inking a three-year extension with Milwaukee in 2023, Antetokounmpo still has a year-and-a-half remaining on his current deal before he can opt out.

As long as he can return from his calf injury in a timely manner, Antetokounmpo can still make a major impact on the 2025-26 NBA season. Whether that comes with the Bucks or a different franchise, however, all depends on how the next couple weeks play out.