Giannis exits game with non-contact injury (1:14)
Giannis Antetokounmpo exits the game after appearing to suffer a noncontact injury. (1:14)
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Jamal CollierDec 27, 2025, 11:03 AM ET
- Jamal Collier is an NBA reporter at ESPN. Collier covers the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls and the Midwest region of the NBA, including stories such as Minnesota’s iconic jersey swap between Anthony Edwards and Justin Jefferson. He has been at ESPN since Sept. 2021 and previously covered the Bulls for the Chicago Tribune. You can reach out to Jamal on Twitter @JamalCollier or via email Jamal.Collier@espn.com.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to play Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls as long as he clears his pregame routine without any issues, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Antetokounmpo has not played since Dec. 3, missing the team’s past eight games with a right calf strain. He will still need to clear tests by the team’s medical staff before the game, but if all goes well, the Bucks could have their two-time MVP back on the floor for the start of a critical juncture.
Milwaukee has gone 2-6 in the eight games without Antetokounmpo, falling to 11th place in the East.
Earlier this month, Antetokounmpo called the injury a soleus strain, the same injury that kept him out of the 2024 playoffs.
In 17 games this season, Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 64% from the field. Milwaukee is 10-7 when he does play and 3-11 when he’s sidelined.
The Athletic first reported that Antetokounmpo is expected to return.
