Is Giannis Antetokounmpo returning for home finale vs. Nets amid injury drama?

Friday could be the Milwaukee Bucks’ final home game with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the team. After missing over a month with a hyperextended knee, Antetokounmpo was ramping up to play in the matchup vs. the Brooklyn Nets alongside his brothers, Alex and Thanasis, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Despite the report, Antetokounmpo will not suit up for the matchup, as he was ruled out alongside Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. The absence comes days after he told reporters he was healthy and called the Bucks out in an expletive-ridden rant for not allowing him to play.

Antetokounmpo’s comments led the NBA to launch an investigation into the Bucks for violation of the player participation policy.

Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out for Bucks’ final home game of season

Bucks general manager Jon Horst recently spoke about whether allowing Antetokounmpo to play alongside his brothers could help mend their relationship.

“Organizationally, we care what Giannis thinks. Of course. And I hope he cares what we think and what we feel, but you have to make tough decisions in tough circumstances, and the lens, again, is to make the best professional judgment that we can that’s best for him and us regarding his health,” Horst told The Athletic. “That is ruling everything. That’s really all that we care about. It’s none of the other stuff. There’s no gamesmanship here. There’s no angling. We just care about doing what’s right for him and for us from a health perspective.

“Of course, I care about what he feels and what he cares about. And I have his entire career. And he cares, hopefully, what I care about and what I feel and the organization. And he has said as much in a lot of this stuff. But it doesn’t mean that you always just do what someone else wants. Like you can still care and not do what they want.”

The leaguewide expectation is that the Bucks will revisit trade conversations surrounding Antetokounmpo this summer. Allowing him to play and risk further injury while eliminated from postseason contention would have been a questionable decision.

Milwaukee also enters Monday’s matchup tied with the Chicago Bulls for ninth place in the draft lottery standings.

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