MILWAUKEE \u2014 Calling it \u201cagainst my nature\u201d to sit out games, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo insisted he is healthy enough to play but is being held out by the only team he has represented in his 13-year NBA career.<\/p>\n
A league investigation into the matter, as first reported by The Athletic, is ongoing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know who you are dealing with,\u201d Antetokounmpo said in an interview with reporters one hour before Friday\u2019s game against the Boston Celtics. \u201cSo for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it\u2019s like a slap in my face. So, I don\u2019t know where the relationship goes from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NBA has been looking into Antetokounmpo\u2019s situation, a source briefed on the situation told The Athletic, and has been engaged in conversations with the Bucks. The National Basketball Players Association previously issued a statement<\/a> asserting that Antetokounmpo was healthy and being withheld from games as part of a tanking effort by the Bucks.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen a case of a player saying, my caliber of player, that\u2019s like \u2014 I\u2019m saying it publicly \u2014 I want to f\u2014ing play. You know what I\u2019m saying?\u201d Antetokounmpo said Friday. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don\u2019t know. There should be. Until we figure something out.\u201d<\/p>\n Antetokounmpo has not played since hyperextending his left knee in the Bucks\u2019 134-123 win over the Indiana Pacers on March 15. While the Bucks have listed him out for the last 10 games with a bone bruise, Antetokounmpo said Friday that he is actually healthy and has been for weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m available to play, but I\u2019m not in the game,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cI\u2019m available to play today. Right now. I\u2019m available. Do I look like I\u2019m not available? \u2026 I don\u2019t see myself in the first 12. I don\u2019t see myself in the starting lineup.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what game is being played right here, I just don\u2019t wanna be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n After the game, a 133-101 loss to the Celtics, Bucks coach Doc Rivers said no change in Antetokounmpo\u2019s health status or availability had been relayed to him. He reiterated that those decisions come from management, not the head coach.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a grown man\u2019s game and it should be handled that way by everybody. So I don\u2019t like when it\u2019s this he said, she said stuff, it\u2019s not good,\u201d Rivers said. \u201cAnd just from that, the fact that I have to sit up here and keep addressing it bothers me. And we need to do something about it.\u201d<\/p>\n