Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will not feature in the NBA All-Star Game next weekend after sustaining a left calf strain, Afrosport reports.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers confirmed the news on Sunday before their 135-127 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, which Antetokounmpo did not play in, his fourth straight missed game.
“We’ve just been monitoring it, and it just hasn’t improved enough for us to play him,” Rivers said. “If this was a playoff game, would he play? Probably yes. But this is not. And we want to make sure he’s playing in the playoffs.”
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sidelined through the next week due to a mild calf strain and will miss the NBA All-Star Game next Sunday, sources tell ESPN. Antetokounmpo, out since Feb. 2, is expected to return to action shortly after All-Star break. pic.twitter.com/wl8Lu6yWNq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2025
The Greek-Nigerian has been named an All-Star nine times, but his confirmed absence from next weekend’s game means NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will have to pick a replacement. He got the most fan votes for the All-Star Game and was selected by Hall of Famer Charles Barkley to play on Team Chuck.
The 2025 NBA All-Star weekend begins on Friday, 14 February, with the Celebrity Game and runs until Sunday, 16 February, with the All-Star Game at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Antetokounmpo is expected to miss Milwaukee’s next two games against the Golden State Warriors at Fiserv Forum on Monday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old last played on 2 February in Milwaukee’s 123-119 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He is averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game in 41 games this season.
