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Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks yells from the bench in the second half of an NBA conference semifinal basketball game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo / Mark J . Terrill)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to play.
The Milwaukee Bucks saved the reigning NBA MVP from himself.
Antetokounmpo was out of Game 5 of Milwaukee’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night with a sprained right ankle, and the Bucks’ season came to an end, falling 103-94 .
Miami won the series 4-1.
“I feel a little lost, to be honest with you,” Antetokounmpo said. “If it’s up to me, I’d play with one leg. I really do not care. But at the end of the day, we have people on the team … who have to protect my health no matter what. “
The Bucks didn’t even give Antetokounmpo a chance to be tempted, calling him inactive.
They indicated several times on Monday and Tuesday that long-term risks were under serious consideration. If Antetokounmpo played with a bad ankle and hurt it more, it could have had serious effects, and the Bucks, even with their season on the line, weren’t willing to take that risk.
“We couldn’t let Giannis come out,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It is not ready. He is not healthy. We cannot put it at risk. Giannis would always play. He wants to be there for his teammates. Really, very difficult for Giannis. I think it was pretty clear from everyone’s perspective, probably except his, what had to happen. “
Antetokounmpo clearly tried to prepare for Game 5. He was on the court about two hours before the game, taking a few shots, then did more strength and flexibility work with a Bucks staff member. Budenholzer watched the session closely on the court, before the team made the final decision.
“It’s always good to see it with your eyes,” Budenholzer said.
Antetokounmpo sprained his ankle in the first quarter of Game 3, then played his regular minutes the rest of the way. He turned the same ankle in the same way, inward, early in the second quarter of Game 4 and was unable to return.
The Bucks lost Game 3 to Antetokounmpo, then found a way to win Game 4 in overtime even after playing the last 40 of the 53 minutes of the game without their leading scorer and rebounder.
Antetokounmpo had started Milwaukee’s 43 postseason games since joining the franchise as the 15th pick in the 2013 NBA draft. The last time the Bucks played a playoff game without Antetokounmpo was on April 28. April 2013, when they were eliminated from the first round by the Heat.
Antetokounmpo received a lot of treatment between games, but Budenholzer indicated Monday that the team would weigh the short-term benefit of him playing Tuesday against the long-term risk.
“We have a great sports and performance staff and a high level of confidence that they understand the big picture,” said Budenholzer. “They have been part of all the decisions in the past and obviously in the future, and the level of trust with them, the communication between them and Giannis … sometimes you have to protect him.”
Antetokounmpo is expected to win the MVP award for the second consecutive season after averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists. And it’s obviously a big part of Milwaukee’s plans going forward.
It was almost exactly a year ago, on September 12, 2019, that the Bucks held a preseason meeting at City Hall for fans, and one of them asked the panel that included Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst what the situation with Antetokounmpo’s long-term contract. .
“Of course, you will be offered a supermax extension,” Horst said.
The Bucks can make that move when free agency begins, possibly in mid-October.
Such a deal would go into effect for the 2021-22 season, and the math before the pandemic hit said it would have been worth around $ 247 million. If the salary cap going forward is affected due to the amount of revenue the league and its teams lost this season, so would Antetokounmpo’s total value. ‘
He has a $ 27.5 million contract next season.
“At the end of the day, the organization put my health above Game 5,” Antetokounmpo said. “That is great.”
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