The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the talk of the NBA world on Dec. 3. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Bucks’ superstar and his agent would talk with the franchise to determine if a trade worked best for both parties. Despite the off-court distractions, Milwaukee won a tight contest later that night over the Detroit Pistons, but Antetokounmpo suffered an injury that will keep him sidelined for at least a few weeks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Suffers Non-Contact Leg Injury
Milwaukee started slow against the Pistons, going down 2-10 early in the first quarter. Its first field goal came when Antetokounmpo found AJ Green under the basket for a layup. When the Bucks’ forward started running back on defense, he suddenly fell to the floor, holding his right leg. He walked off the court on his own power but did not return.
Non-contact leg injuries often concern many people about long-term injuries to the knee and/or Achilles tendon. However, head coach Doc Rivers remained confident after the game that Antetokounmpo avoided an Achilles injury.
Less than an hour after the incident, Milwaukee ruled out Antetokounmpo with a right calf strain. One day later, Charania announced the key details of the injury. The 15th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft will miss “approximately 2 to 4 weeks with a right calf strain.”
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be sidelined for approximately 2 to 4 weeks with a right calf strain, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/k5TyjEo6Eh
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 4, 2025
It is important to note the Bucks did not announce a specific re-evaluation date. Therefore, Antetokounmpo could return at any point during that range.
How Will the Milwaukee Bucks Replace Antetokounmpo’s Production?
Antetokounmpo’s 37.6% usage will be distributed across the roster. He averages 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. One of Kyle Kuzma or Bobby Portis takes over as the starting power forward, but Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins likely see the biggest bumps in offensive responsibility.
Porter just returned from a knee injury and made an immediate impact, scoring 30 and 26 points in the last two games. Rollins is enjoying a career-best season, and he proved he could step up without Antetokounmpo earlier this season. The Bucks’ superstar missed four games with a groin strain in late November. Rollins averages 24.8 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.2 boards in six games without Antetokounmpo this season.
The Bucks will miss Antetokounmpo severely in the rebounding department. They rank 27th at 39.7 boards per game. Milwaukee could fall even further without his defensive rebounding. Antetokounmpo also plays a pivotal role in getting his squad out on the break, as he can handle the ball in transition without having to find a guard. The Bucks will rely heavily on Myles Turner, Jericho Sims, Portis, and Kuzma to step up on the glass without Antetokounmpo.