Giannis Antetokounmpo has not played since the Milwaukee Bucks’ 134-123 win over the Indiana Pacers on March 15. The 13-year veteran suffered a chronic knee injury and bone bruise in that competition and has since been sidelined. On Tuesday, the NBPA released a statement criticizing Milwaukee for wanting to lock Antetokounmpo despite his desire to play.
The NBPA called out the Bucks for allegedly tanking, despite the fact that Milwaukee does not have a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Despite this, the union claims they are doing their part to hold franchises accountable, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“The player participation policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he can be on the court,” the NBPA said. “Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; as long as ownership remains unchecked, fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game will continue to be harmed. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”
Maybe the NBPA’s statement will force the Bucks to change their mind about playing Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, considering the ranking in the Eastern Conference, it might actually be better to keep the 31-year-old forward out of the lineup to prevent further injury.
With 11 games remaining on the schedule, the Bucks are eight games behind the No. 10-ranked Charlotte Hornets. Milwaukee will need to go on a serious win streak, while Charlotte essentially loses in the final stretch of the regular season to make the play-in tournament.
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