Giannis Antetokounmpo makes clear he wants to 'f---ing play' as feud erupts over injury status

Giannis Antetokounmpo exploded connected nan Milwaukee Bucks connected Friday, insisting that he’s patient capable to play but nan squad keeps him connected nan bench.

Antetokounmpo was benched for nan 10th consecutive crippled arsenic nan squad took connected nan Boston Celtics. The squad has said that nan NBA prima has been dealing pinch a near knee hyperextension and a bony bruise. He hasn’t played since March 15, but has warmed up pinch nan squad without exhibiting immoderate evident signs of injury.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of nan Milwaukee Bucks reacts against nan Atlanta Hawks during nan 4th fourth astatine State Farm Arena connected Jan. 19, 2026 successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

"I’ve ne'er seen a lawsuit of a subordinate saying, my caliber of player, that’s for illustration — I’m saying it publically — I want to f---ing play. You cognize what I’m saying?" he said, via The Athletic. "I don’t deliberation I’ve seen this. So, if location needs to beryllium an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we fig thing out."

He insisted he was "available to play."

Bucks caput coach Doc Rivers addressed Antetokounmpo’s comments aft nan team’s 133-101 nonaccomplishment to nan Celtics.

"The reliable portion astir each this is that I’m successful nan mediate and I person thing to do pinch it," Rivers said. "Coaches don’t determine immoderate of this. The problem pinch our convention is nan coaches are nan ones sitting retired front. And we person to beryllium present and reply this stuff. I deliberation location are 2 sides to this, I will show you that, but I don’t want to get excessively progressive successful it."

Rivers added that he didn’t for illustration that nan feud had gone "public."

"This is wherever grown men get successful a room and they talk it out. Whether they work together aliases disagree, that doesn’t matter. But this should not beryllium public, and I don’t for illustration that."

Injured Milwaukee Bucks guardant Giannis Antetokounmpo talks pinch an charismatic during nan first half of an NBA crippled against nan Boston Celtics successful Milwaukee connected April 3, 2026. (Aaron Gash/AP)

The Bucks were still successful contention connected March 15 erstwhile they played nan Indiana Pacers. But a drawstring of losses had them mathematically eliminated from nan postseason.

Multiple reports indicated that nan NBA launched an investigation into nan Bucks’ handling complete Antetokounmpo’s status. The Bucks told nan convention they do not judge he’s fresh to play, ESPN reported Friday.

The business besides drew nan attraction of nan National Basketball Players Association past month.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO BOOS HOME FANS AFTER BASKET AMID TRADE RUMORS: 'I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR'

"The Player Participation Policy was designed by nan convention to clasp teams accountable and guarantee that erstwhile an All-Star for illustration Giannis Antetokounmpo is patient and fresh to play, he is connected nan court," nan national said successful a statement. "Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only arsenic effective arsenic their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and nan integrity of nan crippled itself will proceed to suffer arsenic agelong arsenic ownership goes unchecked. We look guardant to collaborating pinch nan NBA connected meaningful caller proposals that will straight reside and discourage tanking."

Antetokounmpo has been 1 of nan astir ascendant players successful nan convention successful caller years and was nan main logic why nan Bucks were capable to triumph a title successful 2021.

Milwaukee Bucks guardant Giannis Antetokounmpo talks pinch Dallas Mavericks caput coach Jason Kidd earlier an NBA crippled successful Milwaukee connected March 31, 2026. (Jeffrey Phelps/AP)

"The Greek Freak’s" sanction has besides been mentioned successful waste and acquisition rumors complete nan past year. The squad has yet kept him and he will beryllium eligible to motion a four-year, $275 cardinal statement hold successful October.

He could go a free supplier aft nan 2026-27 play if nan squad chooses not to re-sign him, aliases nan Bucks could extremity up trading him aft all.

Antetokounmpo made clear he was unsure wherever his narration pinch nan franchise goes from here.

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"We’ve sewage to spell to couples therapy."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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