Giannis Investigation Decision Reportedly Made by NBA After Bucks Star Shut Down with Injury

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly off the hook when it comes to the team's late-season handling of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the NBA has closed its investigation into the Bucks regarding "the shutdown and health of Antetokounmpo late in the season and has determined that no further action is warranted."

On April 4, an NBA spokesperson told Charania that "the NBA's Player Participation Policy investigation into the Bucks and Antetokounmpo is ongoing and certain facts remain in dispute. The investigation has found that the Bucks scheduled Giannis to work out last week in three-on-three scrimmages as part of his return-to-play process, but he declined to participate. There is a disagreement as to whether the team requested that Giannis participate in a group workout earlier this week, and the league is continuing to monitor the situation."

The Bucks and Giannis did not appear to be on the same page late in the season. The Bucks reportedly wanted to shut him down and improve their chances at a high pick in the lottery (the team ultimately would up with the No. 10 selection), per Charania, while Antetokounmpo wasn't keen on that idea behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, trade talks occurred both during the summer and ahead of February's trade deadline, though Giannis remained in Milwaukee. But he reportedly had doubts about the team's roster ahead of the season and was pushing for a trade ahead of the deadline.

"Giannis has wanted to handle this professionally by being very up front with the team," a source told Charania. "This could have been a happy resolution but instead might end up being a nasty breakup."

The result is what appears to be an inevitable trade this summer, with reports already emerging that the Bucks are prepared to field offers.

It will be the end of an era.

Antetokounmpo, 31, is a 10-time All-Star, two-time MVP and won a title with the Bucks during the 2020-21 season, the first championship for the organization since the 1970-71 campaign. In the 36 games he did play this past season he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, elite production.

The time for a divorce has come. The Bucks, at least, aren't going to be punished for how they handled his availability late in the season, which would have been one final insult to go with the injury of losing arguably the most important player in franchise history.