Giannis Injured, Latest Updates and Timeline for Bucks Star Amid NBA Trade Rumors

Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to have another extended absence after suffering another calf injury.

After the Bucks' 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Antetokounmpo told reporters he is expecting an MRI will reveal a calf strain that could keep him out for four to six weeks.

"After the MRI, they will tell me, probably, I popped something in my calf on my soleus or something," Antetokounmpo said Friday. "This is from my experience being around the NBA."

Antetokounmpo added that he was "feeling" the injury for most of the game, but he returned after getting his leg wrapped in the first quarter. The two-time MVP left the game for good late in the fourth quarter when he started clutching his leg after turning up the court when the Bucks were in transition.

Giannis Non Contact Injury

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Even though Antetokounmpo was favoring the leg for most of the second half, head coach Doc Rivers that he "didn't like what he was seeing" from his star player, but Antetokounmpo was "defiant" about staying in the game.

If the injury is as severe as Antetokounmpo believes, it certainly changes the equation for the Bucks leading up to the trade deadline. Friday's loss dropped them to 18-26 overall, 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the Eastern Conference's final play-in tournament spot.

NBA insider Chris Haynes also pointed out that Antetokounmpo's injury will likely keep him out of the All-Star Game on Feb. 15 after he was voted in as a starter.

In the midst of his 13th NBA season, Giannis has dealt with multiple injuries and been the subject of constant trade rumors. He missed three weeks in December due to a calf strain. The Bucks went 2-6 during that eight-game stretch.

Despite that, he has maintained his status as one of the best players in the NBA when healthy, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in 30 starts.

The 31-year-old veteran has established himself as one of the faces of the league over the past decade, earning nine All-Star nods, nine All-NBA selections, five NBA All-Defensive Team selections, two NBA MVP awards, one NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, one NBA championship and one NBA Finals MVP Award.

Trade rumors swirled around Giannis this past offseason, but instead of moving him, the Bucks doubled down and tried to build around him.

They kept many of their key players in the fold, while waiving the injured Damian Lillard, which allowed them to sign center Myles Turner in free agency.

If the latest injury causes Giannis to miss a significant amount of time, it is fair to wonder if the Bucks have the other pieces needed to keep their heads above water.

It would likely take a collective effort to replace Antetokounmpo's production, led by Turner, Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma.