The Milwaukee Bucks may be in some trouble.
The NBA is investigating the Bucks' handling of the player participation policy and potential inconsistent statements regarding the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
The league interviewed Antetokounmpo's side, the Bucks and team doctors, Charania adds.
All sides have reportedly told the league different stories.
"Milwaukee informed the NBA that it doesn't believe Giannis is ready and actually wants to play; Giannis informed the NBA he wants to play, but the team will not medically clear him," Charania said.
Antetokounmpo hasn't played since hyperextending his left knee in the Bucks’ 134-123 win over the Indiana Pacers on March 15. However, on Friday, he told reporters that he has actually been healthy for weeks.
“You know who you are dealing with,” Antetokounmpo said, according to The Athletic's Eric Nehm. “So for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.
"I’ve never seen a case of a player saying, my calibre of player, that’s like — I’m saying it publicly — I want to f–-ing play. You know what I’m saying? I don’t think I’ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we figure something out.”
The Bucks have been eliminated from playoff contention and may be holding Antetokounmpo to get a higher selection in the draft, although their pick is tied up in a pick-swap with the Falcons and Pelicans.
“Do I understand the circumstances? Yes,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’re not going to make the playoffs … For some people’s eyes, it’s not worth it for me to be out there. But for me, it’s something that goes against my nature, man.”
This is the most recent squabble between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks; he was nearly traded earlier this season and then refused to be shut down for the remainder of the year.
Antetokounmpo put it simply: he and the organization are “definitely, definitely not on the same page."
