{"id":500765,"date":"2026-03-03T07:20:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T07:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/500765\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T07:20:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T07:20:24","slug":"milwaukee-bucks-star-rusty-but-happy-to-play-after-nearly-six-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/500765\/","title":{"rendered":"Milwaukee Bucks star ‘rusty’ but happy to play after nearly six weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>\u2019s return to the basketball court<\/a> for the first time in nearly six weeks unfortunately brought only a momentary roar back to Fiserv Forum on March 2.<\/p>\n

In the opening minutes of the game against the Boston Celtics<\/a>, Antetokounmpo\u2019s first since re-injuring his right calf Jan. 23, the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> scored the game\u2019s first three baskets. The rest of the night was Boston\u2019s, as the Bucks would score only 74 more points over the final 46 minutes of the game in a 108-81 loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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So, it was difficult for Antetokounmpo or the team to really celebrate his return, even if they\u2019ve long been looking forward to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to see big fella out there,\u201d Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. said in a quiet locker room after the game. \u201cProbably was a little rusty, haven\u2019t played in a minute. Good to see him back on the floor doing what he love to do. It\u2019s always hard with injuries, being away from the game and not being able to do what you love to do, which is hoop. So good to see him back on the floor, win or lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

1 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) scores against the Boston Celtics in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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1 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) scores against the Boston Celtics in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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2 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) dribbles past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) toward the Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 basket in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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3 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics scores against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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4 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) takes a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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5 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) and Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) fight for the ball in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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6 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) runs into Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) as he receives a pass from Milwaukee Bucks guard Cam Thomas (24) in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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7 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) takes a shot against the Boston Celtics in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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8 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) drives toward the Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 basket in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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9 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) passes the ball to Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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10 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) passes the ball through Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (7) and Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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11 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) tries to steal the ball from Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) in the second half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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12 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell yells at referee JD Ralls (94) about a travel call in the second half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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13 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics players help Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) up off the ground in the second half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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14 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) and Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) vie for the ball after Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) takes a shot in the second half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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15 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) takes a jump shot in the second half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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16 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks mascot Bango rides a hoverboard and high fives fans in the second half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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17 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Ousmane Dieng (21) tries to block Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) from taking a shot in the first half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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18 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is looks for a pass to his teammate as Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) and Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) guard him in the second half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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19 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) passes the ball past Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) to his teammate in the second half at Fiserv Forum on the evening of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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20 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Injured Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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21 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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22 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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23 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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24 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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25 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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26 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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27 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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28 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

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29 \/ 29<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics 108-81 at Fiserv Forum<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s home game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on the afternoon of March 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo was similarly subdued, even if the throughline in his postgame messaging was how happy he was just to be playing. He logged just under 26 minutes against the Celtics, scoring 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo is coming off a stretch of 15 missed games, which followed eight missed games from Dec. 3-26 with a strained right calf and four missed games with a strained left adductor Nov. 20-26. He also exited games early with injuries on Nov. 17, Dec. 3 and the final seconds of his last game on Jan. 23.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cFeel good, feel a little bit rusty, but obviously something new in my career being out for such a long time and not just one time, multiple times into a season,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cDefinitely disrupt my rhythm, but at the end of the day, I just try to take it day-by-day, game-by-game. I’m happy that I’m back. I’m just happy that I’m on the court. It doesn’t matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I’m just happy that I’m out there. I’m just in a mindset where I try not to take nothing for granted.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, did not play well tonight, but at the end of the day, I’m just happy that I’m out there being able to help my teammates in any way that I can and just do what I love, which is play basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo knocked on the covered wood table in front of him when talking about this lengthier rehab process, as it was the second serious strain of his calf and the larger fear of an Achilles injury obviously loomed over the process.<\/p>\n

\"Bucks<\/p>\n

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before the team\u2019s game March 2 against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo acknowledged several times that, as an older player, his returns from injury may need to take longer. And, his desire to come back sooner from his previous muscle strains may have only hurt him this year than helped.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The last time Antetokounmpo was at full capacity was Nov. 15, before he strained his left adductor on Nov. 17.<\/p>\n

In all, he played just 12 games without being injured, recovering from an injury, or on a minute restriction.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re not able to take care of your soft tissue injuries, they can linger, and I think that\u2019s what has happened this year,\u201d Antetokounmpo acknowledged. \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve been playing the whole year with like a deficit.\u201d<\/p>\n

But against Boston, Antetokounmpo showed some explosion, particularly with three dunks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first time I feel like I have a little bit in my tank, that I\u2019m not risking anything,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I\u2019m happy that I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Perhaps that\u2019s why he didn\u2019t want to get too deep into commenting on the state of the team.<\/p>\n

\"Bucks<\/p>\n

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scores against the Celtics in their game March 2 at Fiserv Forum.<\/p>\n

Unlike his return from his first calf injury in Chicago on Dec. 27, when he forcefully declared the team needed to continue forge a strong identity of playing hard to the final buzzer, he shied away from making any declarations when asked what he can do to help the team rediscover it over the final stretch.<\/p>\n

He pondered the question for about seven seconds before saying, \u201cI\u2019ll be honest with you. I try as much as I can when I do this stuff to answer as honest as I can.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, I\u2019m just trying to get back in a rhythm. Being able to not play for six weeks, the second time I actually played against contact was today, and I feel like the more I\u2019m in shape, the more I have my wind under me, the more I can be able to help my team \u2013 not just like be a better basketball player, just be more vocal, right? The more you\u2019re trying to figure out yourself and spots and try to figure out how you play with your teammates, the more you kind of cave into yourself and you\u2019re not as vocal, you do not control the game as much. I think right now I\u2019m at that place, I\u2019m trying to figure out myself.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m trying to figure out how can I fit in, into the team, which a lot of people might say you should not try to fit in, you should just go out there and play. But, no, it\u2019s the reality. I\u2019m trying to figure out how to play with Scoot [Kevin Porter Jr.], Ryan [Rollins], Cam [Thomas], Ous[mane Dieng] and all these guys. Maybe this is the first time in my career that they\u2019ve got to help me find my identity and not vice versa.\u201d<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo happy to be back playing after injuries<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s return to the basketball court for the first time in nearly six weeks unfortunately brought only…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":500766,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[72270,2242,359,56236,360,355,29170,99],"class_list":["post-500765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-bobby-portis","tag-boston-celtics","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-kevin-porter-jr","tag-milwaukee-bucks","tag-nba","tag-play","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=500765"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500765\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/500766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=500765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=500765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=500765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}