Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo underwent an offseason procedure on his left knee, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
The report described the surgery as being a “cleanup procedure” for Antetokounmpo, but it could potentially cost him the chance to represent Greece at this summer’s FIBA World Cup. The 28-year-old previously played for the country at both the 2019 FIBA World Cup and at EuroBasket in 2022.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t officially been ruled out and Charania described his status for the tournament in August as being “uncertain.”
ESPN’s Jamal Collier reported that Antetokounmpo had been dealing with discomfort in his left knee since the start of the offseason, prompting him and the team to opt for the minor surgery. It’s unclear if the surgery will impact his availability to be ready for Bucks’ training camp, which gets underway in September, but the team expects to have him back.
Last season, Antetokounmpo featured in 63 games for Milwaukee and was sidelined for short stints of time in November and January, with both instances relating to soreness in his left knee.
The two-time MVP averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists while leading the Bucks to a No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, though they were eventually stunned by the Heat in the first round. Antetokounmpo missed a few crucial games due to a back injury, which he sustained in Game 1 of the series against Miami.
