Sources: NBA investigating Bucks after Giannis says hes healthy

The NBA is investigating the Milwaukee Bucks for their handling of the player participation policy and potential inconsistent statements regarding the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Friday.

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have told league investigators different stories. Antetokounmpo has informed the Bucks and the NBA that he wants to play, but the team will not medically clear him, sources told Charania. Milwaukee informed the league that it doesn’t believe Antetokounmpo is ready and actually wants to play, sources said.

Antetokounmpo, who has not played since he hyperextended his left knee against the Indiana Pacers on March 15, spoke to reporters before Friday’s 133-101 loss to the Boston Celtics in Milwaukee and reiterated he is healthy and ready to play.

“I’m available to play, but I’m not in the game,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available.”

The Bucks have told investigators that Antetokounmpo declined the opportunity to play 3-on-3 scrimmages as part of the return protocol from his knee injury, sources said. Antetokounmpo, however, told the NBA that he is healthy enough to return to action regardless.

Antetokounmpo missed his 10th straight game Friday night because of a hyperextended knee and bone bruise. A few days after the injury, sources told Charania that the Bucks wanted to shut down Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season and that he refused the team’s request and wanted to play again this season.

The National Basketball Players Association issued a rebuke of the Bucks late last month, with a statement implying Milwaukee is “tanking” and damaging the league’s integrity.

The Bucks were eliminated from postseason contention March 28, marking the first time since 2016 that they will miss the playoffs.

The NBA has interviewed Antetokounmpo, the Bucks and team doctors, sources told ESPN.

“For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face,” Antetokounmpo told reporters Friday. “So I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”

Bucks coach Doc Rivers addressed Antetokounmpo’s comments after Friday night’s loss.

“The tough part about all this is that I’m in the middle and I have nothing to do with it,” Rivers said. “Coaches don’t decide any of this. The problem with our league is the coaches are the ones sitting out front. And we have to sit here and answer this stuff. I think there are two sides to this, I will tell you that, but I don’t want to get too involved in it.”

Antetokounmpo, 31, has appeared in 36 games this season, by far the fewest he has played in any season of his career. He has dealt with two calf strains, an adductor strain and a knee hyperextension this season.

Since he was injured March 15, Antetokounmpo said the Bucks have not approached him about playing again. Rivers said last week that Antetokounmpo had not practiced. But before home games, Antetokounmpo has been going through his usual pregame routine, working up the intensity in those workouts to make a statement, according to team sources.

The Bucks have five regular-season games remaining.

Information from ESPN’s Jamal Collier and The Associated Press was used in this report.