Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is undergoing knee injury tests ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and eurohoops.net’s Johnny Askounis and Vaggelis Ioannou, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is receiving testing on his left knee ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The Bucks announced in early July that Antetokounmpo had “routine surgery” on his left knee.
“He’s scheduled, in the near future, to travel back to the U.S. to get a checkup on the progress coming off of that procedure, and then a final determination about him playing in the World Cup,” Windhorst said on Thursday.
Windhorst observed that Antetokounmpo’s situation with the Greek national team is “doubtful,” but the Bucks star has not been ruled out of the tournament.
The FIBA World Cup began on August 25 in the Philippines.
Antetokounmpo spent “a large chunk of the offseason in Greece,” but he practiced alone ahead of the World Cup rather than joining the team for training camp and exhibition games, according to Askounis and Ioannou.
If Antetokounmpo is cleared by physicians in the United States, he might make his Greek debut against a young Team USA side on August 18, according to Askounis and Ioannou. The team’s final exhibition game is against Germany on August 19.
Windhorst stated that Antetokounmpo’s participation in the tournament is being considered by both the Bucks and the Greek national team.
According to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, Antetokounmpo missed at least eight games with left knee pain during the Bucks’ 2022-23 season, so Milwaukee may be careful in his return.
Head coach Adrian Griffin stated in July that Antetokounmpo will be ready for training camp. Even if Antetokounmpo is ruled out of the World Cup, Milwaukee will be hoping he meets the deadline.
The Bucks star, who was one of only six NBA players to score more than 30 points per game last season, is entitled to sign a three-year contract extension between September 22 and the day before the regular season begins.
Antetokounmpo is unlikely to sign a new contract until next season, despite the fact that he can sign a four-year extension if he waits until 2024, but ensuring his injury recovery is handled correctly this summer could be the Bucks’ best option at ensuring he stays with Milwaukee whenever he chooses to sign. The seven-time All-Star, who turns 29 in December, is currently under contract until 2025, with a player option for 2026.
