NBA continues to investigate dispute between Bucks, Giannis
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since leaving a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers after landing awkwardly on a dunk.
SAY? WELL, I WENT ONE ON ONE WITH HIM EARLIER TODAY. >> JIM, MORE TROUBLE IN PARADISE. THE NBA NOW INVESTIGATING THE BUCKS FOR THEIR USAGE OF GIANNIS. YANNIS SAYING HE’S HEALTHY. THE BUCKS SAYING THEY’RE NOT. HE SPOKE WITH REPORTERS BEFORE FRIDAY’S GAME AGAINST THE CELTICS. YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE REPORTERS. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THIS LATEST DRAMA. >> YEAH. I MEAN LOOK HE SAID BACK ON MARCH 15TH WHEN HE HURT HIS KNEE DARIO. I MEAN, HE KNEW KIND OF RIGHT AWAY WHAT HAPPENED. HYPEREXTENSION. HE FELT IT WAS A SHORT TERM INJURY. AND WE HAVEN’T SEEN HIM SINCE. AND IT’S BEEN KNOWN HE’S MADE IT KNOWN THAT HE HAS WANTED TO PLAY. THIS WAS SORT OF A LEAGUE, A LEAGUE MANDATED MEDIA AVAILABILITY. IT’S IT’S WHEN HER PLAYERS ARE ARE OUT FOR A WHILE, THEY HAVE TO TALK. AND AT THIS POINT, HE’S HAD SEVERAL WEEKS OF SORT OF PENT UP FEELINGS. AND YEAH, LOOK HE IS ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS PLAY BASKETBALL. AND TO HIS POINT, HE’S HE’S FELT HEALTHY AND READY TO DO SO THE TEAM DOESN’T. AND SO YEAH, YOU’RE RIGHT. DARIO THE PA THE LEAGUE LOOKING INTO IT NOW WHERE THAT GOES. WHAT THAT MEANS I GUESS TO BE DETERMINED. BUT YEAH YOU KNOW GIANNIS VERY CLEAR IN HOW HE FEELS ABOUT HIS OWN HEALTH. AND LOOK HE’S BEEN PUTTING ON SHOWS IN PREGAME DARIO. I MEAN HE’S WINDMILL DUNKING. HE’S YOU KNOW FULL SPEED DROP STEP. YOU KNOW FADEAWAYS ON THAT LEG. I MEAN HE IS HE’S NOT JUST SAYING IT. HE’S SHOWING TO A DEGREE TO THAT HE CAN THAT HE’S HEALTHY. >> SO JIM, YOU’VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND. LIKE IN YOUR OPINION. I KNOW YOU’RE NOT A MEDICAL EXPERT, BUT TO YOU, FROM WHAT YOU’VE SEEN DURING PREGAME WARM UPS, HE SEEMS LIKE HE’S HEALTHY AND COULD PLAY. >> I MEAN, ALL I CAN GO IS GO WITH IS WHAT I’VE SEEN IN THE PAST. AND I’VE MENTIONED THAT TO DOC RIVERS MAYBE A WEEK AGO ABOUT THESE WARM UPS. AND I SAID, DOC, I’VE I’VE SEEN HIM LOOK FAR WORSE IN WARM UPS AND PLAY GAMES. ASHLAND DOC PERHAPS RIGHTFULLY SAID, OH, YOU KNOW, YOU’RE GOING TO DIAGNOSIS FROM WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING, BUT I MEAN, I’VE BEEN AROUND THE GUY SINCE HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD. I MEAN, I’VE SEEN HIM DO THINGS OR NOT DO THINGS IN ORDER TO PLAY. AND YEAH. DARIO, I MEAN, MY AMATEUR OPINION, SOME OF THESE WARM UPS LOOK LIKE BEYOND HEALTHY ON US. I MEAN, HE DOESN’T DUNK IN WARM UPS. HE DOESN’T MOVE IN CERTAIN WAYS WHEN HE’S ACTUALLY GETTING READY TO PLAY. AND HE’S KIND OF PUTTING IT ALL OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. >> ARE YOU SURPRISED HOW PUBLIC THIS HAS ALL GOTTEN? >> YES AND NO. LOOK, DARIO, ONE OF THE REASONS TANKING ON A BROADER LEVEL WORKS TO THE DEGREE THAT IT DOES IS BECAUSE THERE’S A COMMON, YOU KNOW, BOND OR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION AND PLAYERS, RIGHT? EITHER YOU’RE GOING TO PLAY X AMOUNT OF MINUTES OR NOT PLAY AT ALL OR WHATEVER. AND, AND IT JUST SORT OF GOES ALONG. GIANNIS CLEARLY WANTS TO PLAY. HE WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH NOT PLAYING. WHETHER THERE HAVE 20 WINS 30 WINS OR 60 WINS, WHICH IS HIS POINT. AND SO I THINK IT’S IT’S SURPRISING IT’S GOTTEN PUBLIC BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T RESOLVE THIS WEEKS AGO BEHIND THE SCENES, WHICH I THINK IS HIS FRUSTRATION. AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THAT WAS FRUSTRATION. BUT I’M ALSO NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PLAYER WHO’S JUST NOT GOING TO BUY INTO THAT PROGRAM. GIANNIS IS NOT GOING TO JUST NOT PLAY FOR THE SAKE OF LOSING OR MAYBE NOT WINNING AS MUCH, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PHRASE IT. SO YEAH, I’M SURPRISED DARIO LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED BEHIND THE SCENES WEEKS AND WEEKS AGO. BUT NO, BECAUSE HE’S JUST NOT HE’S JUST NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE A LOSER LIKE THAT. THAT’S NOT SOMETHING HE WANTS HIS NAME ATTACHED TO. >> I KNOW YOU MENTIONED DOC RIVERS. WHAT’S HE SAYING ABOUT THIS WHOLE FIASCO? >> YEAH, I MEAN, DOC KIND OF HAD IT HAD ENOUGH POST GAME. DARIO. WE ASKED HIM ABOUT SOME OF THESE COMMENTS. NOT ALL OF THEM. WE REALIZE THIS HAPPENED AS HE WAS GETTING READY TO COACH A GAME. AND BUT HE, HE BASICALLY SAID, LOOK, I, I DON’T KNOW WHY THIS IS PUBLIC. I’M FRUSTRATED THAT IT’S PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE HAVE HAD AND WE NEED TO HAVE THEM NOW. AND SO YEAH, HE’S AND HE SAID LIKE, I’VE HAD TO ANSWER FOR THIS. AND THAT’S THE WAY THE LEAGUE IS SET UP. LOOK GIANNIS HAD TO TALK. IT’S A LEAGUE RULE. LIKE PLAYERS AREN’T GOING TO TAKE A FINE FOR NOT SPEAKING. DOC RIVERS HAS TO TALK. THEY’RE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT ARE SORT OF MANDATED BY THE LEAGUE. AND SO DOC JUST KIND OF HAD ENOUGH OF THAT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I’M THE ONE THAT’S GOT TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND YET I DON’T HAVE ANY. HE SAYS HE HAS NO SAY IN IT. SO YEAH, FRUSTRATION TO A TIPPING POINT, BOILING POINT FOR THOSE MAYBE BOILING SOME SAUSAGES THIS WEEKEND. DARIO. FISERV FORUM. >> AND LOOK, I MEAN, ONE GUY I THINK WE’D ALL LOVE TO HEAR FROM IS JOHN HORST. WE NEVER HEAR FROM HIM DURING THE REGULAR SEASON. I UNDERSTAND JOHNNY’S POINT OF VIEW, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF HIS QUOTES ABOUT PLAYING WITH HIS BROTHERS. I’M SURE THAT’D BE REALLY COOL. YOU UNDERSTAND THE BUCKS SIDE, RIGHT? WHERE HE’S AN ASSET. THE SEASON’S OVER. IF YOU WANT HIM HEALTHY NEXT YEAR, THAT’S GREAT. IF YOU WANT HIM HEALTHY FOR A TRADE PIECE, THAT’S GREAT. JIM. WHO’S RIGHT? >> YEAH, MAN. IT’S YOU COULD AS YOU LAID IT OUT, YOU SEE BOTH OF IT. AND LOOK THIS IS OUR FIRST CONVERSATION WITH GIANNIS SINCE MARCH. AND AT THAT POINT HE THERE WAS A MATHEMATICAL CHANCE FOR THEM TO GET INTO THE PLAY. SO NOW THAT THEY’VE BEEN ELIMINATED I DON’T I GUESS I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY COULDN’T HAVE FOUND SOME AGREEMENT. IF YOU GO TO JEFFERSON.COM. READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT. HE HE UNDERSTANDS THEIR PLACE NOW IN THE STANDINGS AND HEALTH AND TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF. OBVIOUSLY YOU’RE RIGHT. HE WANTS TO PLAY WITH ANALYSIS AND ALEX. SO IT FEELS LIKE A COMMON GROUND THERE. I DON’T KNOW IF GIANNIS WANTS TO PLAY 35 MINUTES. I’M SURE HE DOES. BUT MAYBE THERE’S A CONVERSATION IN THERE. HEY WHAT ABOUT JUST THESE LAST COUPLE HOME GAMES 25 MINUTES. LIKE I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE THE YOU KNOW THE COMPROMISE IS DARIO. BUT MAYBE THEY BOTH CAN BE RIGHT. LOOK, THEY WERE LOSING AT AN INCREDIBLE RATE WHEN HE PLAYED. SO I IT’S NOT LIKE HIM PLAYING IS GOING TO REALLY DRASTICALLY AFFECT THEIR DRAFT POSITION AT THIS POINT. SO YEAH, I DON’T KNOW WHO’S RIGHT. BOTH SIDES COULD SAY THEY’RE PROBABLY RIGHT. SO IT’S YOU KNOW, IT’S SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE THAT THAT CLEARLY THEY NEED TO FIND BEFORE THE SEASON’S OVER. >> HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A COMPROMISE AGREE TO THE EXTENSION. YOU CAN PLAY AS MUCH AS YOU
NBA continues to investigate dispute between Bucks, Giannis
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since leaving a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers after landing awkwardly on a dunk.
Updated: 7:44 PM CDT Apr 4, 2026
An NBA investigation into the dispute between the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo regarding the two-time MVP’s injury status is ongoing.The NBA issued a statement offering an update on the investigation Saturday, a day after Antetokounmpo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Athletic that he’s healthy and he wants to play.Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since leaving a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers after landing awkwardly on a dunk. The Bucks released an injury report Saturday ruling him out for Sunday’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, which will mark the 11th straight game he has missed.“The NBA’s Player Participation Policy investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo is ongoing and certain facts remain in dispute,” an NBA spokesman said. “The investigation has found that the Bucks scheduled Giannis to work out last week in three-on-three scrimmages as part of his return-to-play process, but he declined to participate. There is a disagreement as to whether the team requested that Giannis participate in a group workout earlier this week, and the league is continuing to monitor the situation.”ESPN first reported that an investigation was taking place.Since that Indiana game, the Bucks have ruled Antetokounmpo out due to left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise. Antetokounmpo has been participating in pregame warmups lately with no apparent limits.“I’m healthy,” Antetokounmpo told reporters before the Bucks’ 133-101 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday. “I hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I’m a player. I get paid to play.”The Bucks were eliminated from postseason contention on March 28, snapping their string of nine straight playoff appearances.Sunday will mark the career-high 42nd game Antetokounmpo has missed this season. He had two extended absences earlier this season due to right calf strains. He also sat out four games early this season with a left adductor strain.The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo says he’s feeling better now and wants to get back on the floor. He has played his entire 13-year career with Milwaukee, which selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft.Given his long history with the team, Antetokounmpo said the Bucks should have known he wouldn’t want to be shut down for the season just because their playoff hopes have vanished.“You know who you’re dealing with,” Antetokounmpo said Friday. “So, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it’s like a slap in my face.”This dispute comes amid much speculation regarding Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks.Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October. If he doesn’t sign the extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, or the Bucks could decide to trade him beforehand.Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after Monday’s game that he wishes this disagreement had been kept between the two parties. Rivers added that “this is a grown man’s game, and it should be handled that way by everybody.”“I just don’t like that this is so public,” Rivers said. “This is where grown men get in a room and they talk it out. Whether they agree or disagree, that doesn’t matter. But this should not be public, and I don’t like that.”
MILWAUKEE —
An NBA investigation into the dispute between the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo regarding the two-time MVP’s injury status is ongoing.
The NBA issued a statement offering an update on the investigation Saturday, a day after Antetokounmpo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Athletic that he’s healthy and he wants to play.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since leaving a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers after landing awkwardly on a dunk. The Bucks released an injury report Saturday ruling him out for Sunday’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, which will mark the 11th straight game he has missed.
“The NBA’s Player Participation Policy investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo is ongoing and certain facts remain in dispute,” an NBA spokesman said. “The investigation has found that the Bucks scheduled Giannis to work out last week in three-on-three scrimmages as part of his return-to-play process, but he declined to participate. There is a disagreement as to whether the team requested that Giannis participate in a group workout earlier this week, and the league is continuing to monitor the situation.”
ESPN first reported that an investigation was taking place.
Since that Indiana game, the Bucks have ruled Antetokounmpo out due to left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise. Antetokounmpo has been participating in pregame warmups lately with no apparent limits.
“I’m healthy,” Antetokounmpo told reporters before the Bucks’ 133-101 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday. “I hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I’m a player. I get paid to play.”
The Bucks were eliminated from postseason contention on March 28, snapping their string of nine straight playoff appearances.
Sunday will mark the career-high 42nd game Antetokounmpo has missed this season. He had two extended absences earlier this season due to right calf strains. He also sat out four games early this season with a left adductor strain.
The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo says he’s feeling better now and wants to get back on the floor. He has played his entire 13-year career with Milwaukee, which selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft.
Given his long history with the team, Antetokounmpo said the Bucks should have known he wouldn’t want to be shut down for the season just because their playoff hopes have vanished.
“You know who you’re dealing with,” Antetokounmpo said Friday. “So, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it’s like a slap in my face.”
This dispute comes amid much speculation regarding Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October. If he doesn’t sign the extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, or the Bucks could decide to trade him beforehand.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after Monday’s game that he wishes this disagreement had been kept between the two parties. Rivers added that “this is a grown man’s game, and it should be handled that way by everybody.”
“I just don’t like that this is so public,” Rivers said. “This is where grown men get in a room and they talk it out. Whether they agree or disagree, that doesn’t matter. But this should not be public, and I don’t like that.”