Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing this season? Knee injury recovery timeline, return date, more to know about Bucks star

The Milwaukee Bucks chose not to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo at the 2026 NBA trade deadline. But even while remaining on the team, it remains possible that Antetokounmpo has played his last game as a Buck.

It's been a rough season in Milwaukee, as the squad owns a 29-42 record so far and has long been focused on its upcoming offseason, where Antetokounmpo will remain a top trade candidate. So, as Antetokounmpo has dealt with nagging injuries to wrap up the 2025-26 season, the Bucks have been attempting to remain as cautious as possible with keeping their star healthy.

Antetokounmpo, however, has appeared to be at odds with his team over whether he should be shut down for the year. A natural competitor, the star forward has remained adamant that as long as he's healthy, he wants to be on the court. That's led to some tension between Antetokounmpo and his squad as a massive offseason nears.

Here's what to know about Antetokounmpo's status for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, his injury and the latest on his trade rumors.

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Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing this season?

For now, it's unclear whether Antetokounmpo will return to the floor, once he's healthy enough to do so. He last played on Mar. 15 against the Pacers, leaving the game after landing awkwardly following a dunk. Since then, with just weeks remaining in the regular season, he's been out — but reports indicate Antetokounmpo wants to return to action.

On Mar. 18, ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were at odds over whether he should be shut down for the season, especially with the team's postseason chances all but gone. Antetokounmpo "refused the team's requests and wants to play again," ESPN reported. Milwaukee did not provide an initial timetable for Antetokoumpo's return, but the expectation was that he would miss around a week.

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have had "multiple meetings" where he "remained adamant about returning to the court this season," according to ESPN. 

As of Mar. 24, the Bucks star remained sidelined — and that day, the NBPA released a statement about the dispute between Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee that hinted the Bucks were attempting to tank by sitting Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season.

"The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court," the union said in its statement. "Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.".

Statement from the National Basketball Players Association on the Milwaukee Bucks' desires to shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo, who wants to play: pic.twitter.com/4WUKBQH8A2

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Giannis Antetokounmpo knee injury

Antetokounmpo has been sidelined since Mar. 15, when he left a matchup against the Pacers after landing awkwardly after a dunk.

The Bucks star has been dealing with a hyperextension and a bone bruise in the knee, per ESPN.

How long is Giannis Antetokounmpo out?

The Bucks have not provided a timetable for Antetokounmpo's return to the floor. Based on reports, if the team is getting its way, he may not play again in 2025-26 with Milwaukee set to miss the playoffs.

ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo's knee injury was expected to sideline him for "at least" one week, but there's an expectation that he'd be able to get healthy enough to play before the regular season ends.

Are the Bucks tanking?

No NBA team will flat-out say it is tanking, and the Bucks are no exception. But the reality of their situation is also clear: they struggled in 2025-26, with extremely limited depth behind Antetokounmpo, who has missed significant time to injuries. 

The Bucks will not be making the playoffs, so they aren't exactly incentivized to win games. However, Milwaukee also has a complicated situation with its 2026 first-round pick — the Hawks are set to receive the more favorable of the Bucks' first-rounder and the Pelicans' first-rounder, with Milwaukee receiving the less favorable of the two. As things appear before the lottery, New Orleans' pick will likely be higher in the lottery than Milwaukee's.

The willingness to rule out Antetokounmpo is certainly a sign that the Bucks are more focused on their upcoming offseason, when they may trade the star, than the games that lie ahead.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors

Antetokounmpo was the big fish of the 2026 NBA trade deadline, but he wasn't moved. Instead, the Bucks chose to hold onto him, moving the speculation to the offseason, where it will be easier to find a trade partner and they could potentially drive up the asking price.

There's no guarantee Antetokounmpo is moved this offseason, but given the state of the Bucks' roster around him, they may decide it's finally time to move on. While the star forward has been hesitant to officially ask for a trade, the team has also indicated it's willing to listen to offers.

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