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The NBA Players Association rebuked the Milwaukee Bucks over their dispute with All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, implying that the team was "tanking" and therefore damaging the league's integrity by shutting down the two-time NBA MVP for the remainder 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 obtained by ESPN. "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."
Last week, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo pushed back against the team's decision to shut him down for the rest of the season due to his hyperextended knee diagnosis, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
"The Milwaukee Bucks want Giannis Antetokounmpo to shut down for the remainder of the season after his latest injury and the team's playoff chances dwindled, but Antetokounmpo has refused the team's requests and wants to play again, sources tell ESPN," Charania wrote on his X account. "There have been multiple meetings over Antetokounmpo's status in the last 24 hours since his hyperextended knee diagnosis, and a disagreement has ensued between the sides on whether it is best for him to return, sources said."
The Bucks announced their decision to sideline Antetokounmpo, 31, due to a left knee injury, the latest setback of an injury-plagued season, having already missed a career-high 32 games, and didn't provide a timeline for his return. Sources told ESPN that the former NBA champion would miss at least a week due to a hyperextension and a bone bruise in the knee with 14 games remaining on Milwaukee's regular season schedule.
The two sides reportedly had meetings during the 24 hours leading up to the report and Antetokounmpo was adamant that playing through the injury wouldn't have long-term consequences. The two-time NBA MVP landed awkwardly after a dunk in the third quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the Bucks' win against the Indiana Pacers on March 18, despite claiming he felt he could play.
The Bucks are 29-42 and rank 11th in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Charlotte Hornets by eight games for the 10th and final spot for the play-in tournament.