Giannis Antetokounmpo will remain off the court for the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.
However, the superstar forward showed some notable progress on the morning of the matchup. According to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, Antetokounmpo was spotted on the court getting up shots, following the Bucks’ shootaround in Minnesota.
While Antetokounmpo’s presence at the shootaround session doesn’t guarantee he’ll be back on the court this week, it offers the organization some optimism as they look to turn their rough start around.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as out for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves, but he was participating in a shooting drill after shootaround in Minneapolis this morning. Pic.twitter.com/JuJmCR92YB
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) December 21, 2025
What’s the Latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Situation in Milwaukee?
Antetokounmpo missed consecutive games for the first time this season in late November. After a four-game absence, he returned to action on November 28 to face the New York Knicks.
Just three minutes into the December 3 matchup against the Detroit Pistons, Antetokounmpo went down with a calf strain. The initial scare took a turn for the worse when Giannis was guaranteed to miss multiple weeks of action.
The Bucks initially reported 2-4 weeks, but it turns out that 4-6 weeks will be more realistic. The Bucks caught a break with the NBA Cup taking place in early December, but the show is still going on without Antetokounmpo in the mix.
Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves will mark the sixth absence for Giannis during this stretch. Since he missed his first game with the calf strain on December 5, the Bucks have won just one game. They have nine losses in the absence of the multi-time MVP this year.
As a result of the Bucks’ struggles, Giannis’ name has been brought up in trade rumors, continuing a trend that dates back to the end of the 2024-2025 NBA season.
It’s still too early to make a call on Antetokounmpo’s chances of getting moved before the February deadline. Rumors suggest that he’s unhappy—but he won’t demand a move.
As for the Bucks, they continue to do everything they can to keep Giannis satisfied. Currently, the Bucks are reportedly operating as buyers in the trade market. The team is expected to search for a Giannis co-star before it’s too late.