When Giannis Antetokounmpo hyperextended his knee during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks star initially thought his season was over — and that the start of his next season may be in jeopardy too.
“I thought I would be out for a year,” Antetokounmpo said, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Giannis added that until the results of his MRI came back, he was convinced his absence would be a lengthy one.
“I couldn’t walk, and my knee was like double the size,” Antetokounmpo said. “Usually I never swell up. But you know, I woke up the next day, did whatever it’s called, MRI or X-ray — I don’t know what it’s called — and they said I’m good. And I was like, ‘Thank God.'”
Antetokounmpo, who was originally listed as doubtful for Game 1, was upgraded to questionable on Tuesday afternoon and was cleared after going through pregame warmups without any issues. He didn’t look too bothered by the knee on Tuesday night, racking up 20 points and 17 rebounds, but said he hopes to feel even better for Game 2, as Bontemps relays.
Here are a few more notes related to the NBA Finals, which the Suns lead 1-0:
- Despite the fact that the Bucks lost Game 1, Antetokounmpo’s return offers the team hope for the rest of the series, writes Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
- Suns forward Dario Saric suffered a right knee injury the first quarter on Tuesday night and didn’t return. As Dave McMenamin of ESPN details, there was no official update on Saric’s condition after the game, so his status going forward is unclear.
- Chris Paul, who is playing in his first Finals in his 16th NBA season, joked on Tuesday that he hasn’t gotten used to not being able to watch other basketball games on days the Suns aren’t playing. “I was watching them soccer games,” Paul said, according to McMenamin. “I watched a hockey game last night.”
- Paul looks like the early favorite to become this year’s Finals MVP, racking up a game-high 32 points and nine assists on 12-of-19 shooting on Tuesday. Check out our poll from last night to make your prediction for Finals MVP.
When CP was younger, it was a frequently said that he watched too many games, that he was kind of bent. He might be too intense to be an NBA coach later on but I bet he gets sucked into coaching lower levels and learns.
… learns to deal with himself & his affect on the players.
Giannis-Khris-Jrue plus 2 other players other than Portis or Lopez will carry the day against PHX pick and roll. Problem is filling in other minutes. MIL played like a mentally fatigued team. They were not anticipating very well most of the game.
Great that Giannis is back… otherwise it wouldn’t be much point in the Finals without him!
Yeah it’d be awful not seeing him on the bench in crunch time cuz he can’t hit free throws, or get hacked every time he touches the ball cuz he can’t hit free throws, or not be guarded at all beyond 10 feet cuz he can’t hit jump shots, or playing 1 on 5 cuz he insists on getting to the rim whether he takes the ball with him or not.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the guy, but how exactly is he worthy of being the highest paid player on the planet?
‘Cause he is the 2 times MVP!!!
One of the best ever, must enjoy it while he dominates & destroys!!!
Giannis was not himself, it was obvious to me. But had a solid gm. Like I said before. Just glad he’s healthy after that. But why play him. They can wait till he gets Hm. Gets more time to heal and get ready. Not a wise decision IMO. Bucks are just not handling this well as a franchise. Lucky to beat Nets. Seems like they are still trying to find their identity. This team is not built well. Have no bench. Putting Giannis at center was a good move. Cause they were abusing Lopez on picks n rolls. They could play more zone. Man-zone and keep Lopez by key. Holiday played good D on Chris. They should be picking up full ct more. Bucks should attack the post more. Without Ayton Suns are not same team. I’d post Lopez and Giannis more. And let Jrue run team more instead of Middleton. Middleton would get more better looks playing off the ball. Thought that was the whole point of trading for a real PG. Tell you, I’m not a fan of Bucks coach. You want to bother Chris play him full ct. Holiday knows that. Too bad their coach doesn’t.
I agree, like Middleton off the ball with Holiday running the show. G and Lopez need to just hover in the paint and do their thing. They need to own the paint and make anyone who enters pay the price. Both need to be sucking up every offensive board too. Let the other guys take shots, and just own every board that comes your way or kick it back out to the shooters. All day…