Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year, is about to compete in his first NBA Finals.
That is, if he’s healthy enough to step on the hardwood.
Antetokounmpo suffered a hyperextended left knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks.
But despite his absence in the following two games, the Bucks were able to hold on to win the series, earning them their first Finals berth since 1974.
“These guys have put the work in all year. They deserve to go to the finals,” said Bucks’ coach Mike Budenholzer, via Fox News.
As for Antetokounmpo’s availability, Coach ‘Bud was less sure, via CBS Sports.
“I mean, [Giannis] and the sports performance team, they have been together a long time. It’s special to watch their relationship. It’s special to watch the communication, the trust that he has. You have to listen to the player and then you have to listen to the sports performance group, and at some point Jon Horst and myself are part of the conversations, but it’s just a day-to-day thing. We’ll update it when appropriate. The conversations between he and myself and he and the sports performance group, it’s kind of private and we’ll see where he is each day.”
The Bucks will face off against the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday (7/6) at 6PM PST at the Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.