Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Solid showing in preseason opener
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Antetokounmpo recorded 14 points (6-8 FG, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, two blocks and one assist in 21 minutes during Sunday's 105-102 preseason win over the Bulls.
Antetokounmpo re-signed with the Bucks this offseason after garnering a modest role last season. Many people consider his presence on Milwaukee's 15-man roster the past four years as a favor to his younger brother Giannis Antetokounmpo, but as he displayed Sunday, the elder sibling has the skills necessary to compete in the NBA. The 31-year-old likely won't ever play 20-plus minutes per night, but his high-energy style can certainly leave an impression in limited action.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Returning to Milwaukee
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Antetokounmpo agreed to a new contract with the Bucks on Friday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's older brother will stick around in Milwaukee after spending the last four seasons with the franchise. During the 2022-23 campaign, the 31-year-old forward averaged 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.6 minutes across 37 appearances. The terms of his deal haven't been revealed, but assuming he's included on Milwaukee's season-opening 15-man roster, Antetokounmpo is unlikely to be a regular member of the rotation.
Antetokounmpo was served a one-game suspension for a flagrant two foul he was assessed on Thursday.
Antetokounmpo headbutted Blake Griffin after being fouled on a shot attempt with a little over one minute to play in the 140-99 loss and was ejected. He was handed a single-game suspension, so he will be unavailable for Sunday's game against the 76ers. His absence should have minimal effect on coach Mike Budenholzer's rotation.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Ejected Thursday
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Antetokounmpo was ejected from Thursday's game against the Celtics after being assessed a flagrant two, Jared Weiss of The Athletic reports.
Antetokounmpo was ejected with just over a minute left after headbutting Blake Griffin while the Bucks were down 40. He will finish the contest with one point and one assist in eight minutes of action. He should be back in action for Sunday's game against the 76ers.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Gets playing time in blowout
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Antetokounmpo logged 12 minutes off the bench in Friday's 144-116 win over the Jazz, finishing with four points (2-3 FG), two rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Antetokounmpo remains outside of head coach Mike Budenholzer's rotation, but he had the opportunity to play nearly the entire fourth quarter Friday after the Bucks carried a 30-point lead into the final period. The 30-year-old left the team for a few days last week to tend to a personal matter, but now that he's back with the Bucks, he'll see little use in his depth role down the stretch.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Good to go Wednesday
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Antetokounmpo (personal) is available for Wednesday's game versus the Spurs.
Antetokounmpo appears to have returned to the team and could play Wednesday. However, his last appearance was on Mar. 1, and he hasn't logged more than five minutes in a game since early January, so his return shouldn't make much of a fantasy impact.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Not with team
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Antetokounmpo isn't with the team and won't suit up Wednesday against the Spurs.
Antetokounmpo isn't a regular part of the rotation, so his absence shouldn't impact fantasy hoops, but his next chance to don the uniform arrives Friday as the Bucks embark on a four-game road trip beginning in Salt Lake City.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Ruled out Thursday
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Antetokounmpo (not with team) won't play in Thursday's game versus the Pacers.
Antentokounmpo's absence is unlikely to affect Milwaukee's rotation. His return timetable is unclear, but his next chance to suit up is Sunday's matchup with Toronto.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Headed to G League
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Antetokounmpo will join the Bucks' G League affiliate Wisconsin Herd, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports.
Antetokounmpo has struggled to earn a rotation spot with the Bucks, having appeared in just 2.5 minutes per game this season despite Milwaukee's injury struggles. However, he should be a top option with the Herd for as long as he remains on their roster.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Recalled to NBA
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The Bucks recalled Antetokounmpo from the Wisconsin Herd of the G League on Wednesday, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports.
Antetokoumpo returns to the Bucks along with Khris Middleton and MarJon Beauchamp. Antetokounmpo is playing only 2.6 minutes per game across eight contests, so he was likely just with the Herd to receive extra practice time.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Heads to G League
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Antetokoumpo has been assigned to the G League, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports.
Antetokounmpo doesn't see a ton of action for the Bucks. With the Herd not playing again until Saturday, he may just be joining the G League affiliate to get some additional practice in.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Cleared to play Thursday
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Antetokounmpo (illness) was left off the injury report for Thursday's season opener versus the 76ers.
Antetokounmpo returned to practice this week after recovering from a non-COVID illness. While he is returning to the lineup Thursday, Antetokounmpo isn't expected to have anything more than a reserve role.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Returns to practice
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Antetokounmpo (illness) returned to practice Monday, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Antetokounmpo has dealt with a non-COVID illness over the last week, but it's encouraging that he was able to return to practice after sitting out Saturday's practice session. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available for Thursday's regular-season opener against the 76ers, but he certainly appears to be trending in the right direction.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Status unclear for Opening Night
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Antetokounmpo (illness) is expected back at some point next week, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer didn't specify precisely when Antetokounmpo would be available, so it's best to consider him a question mark for Opening Night on Thursday versus the Sixers. He should fill a light bench role if available.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Slated to play Wednesday
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Antetokounmpo (illness) is available for Wednesday's preseason game against Brooklyn, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Antetokounmpo sat out Tuesday's exhibition game due to a non-COVID illness, but he'll return to action for the second half of the back-to-back set. His brief absence shouldn't impact his availability for the start of the regular season.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Missing Tuesday's game
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Antetokounmpo (illness) will miss Tuesday's preseason game versus the Bulls with a non-COVID illness, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports
Antetokounmpo's illness will also likely put his status for Wednesday's game against the Nets into question. While it is unlikely that this illness will cause him to miss any regular-season action, Antetokounmpo is not likely to receive much more than 10 to 15 minutes per game this season.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Exercises option
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Antetokounmpo has exercised his $1.88 million player option ahead of the 2022-23 season, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
No surprise here, as this was the expected outcome for Antetokounmpo. The only other route would have been for him to decline and re-sign for another veteran year with a player-option. The veteran forward averaged 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds across 9.9 minutes in 48 games for the Bucks last season.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Excels with 27 points in spot start
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Antetokounmpo logged 27 points (9-14 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 8-10 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one block across 41 minutes during Sunday's 133-115 loss to the Cavaliers.
With his brother Giannis Antokounmpo scratched, Antetokounmpo slid into a spot start at the four in the season finale. At 6-6, he lacks his younger brother's size, but he's arguably a more versatile player who can shoot and get vertical with equal alacrity. The Bucks will revert back to their customary lineup for the playoffs, so his night of production was a one-shot deal.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Will start finale
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Antetokounmpo will start Sunday's game against the Cavs, Joe Gabriele of Cavs.com reports.
The Bucks are resting most of their regulars, so it'll be a skeleton crew soaking up most of the minutes in Game 82. Antetokounmpo hasn't been a part of the regular rotation for most of the season, but he should see an appreciable jump in minutes Sunday.
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Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Good to go Wednesday
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Antetokounmpo (COVID-19 protocols) is available Wednesday against the Raptors, Stephen Watson of WISN12 News reports.
Antetokounmpo hasn't appeared in the past three games, but that could change Wednesday with the Bucks down six players. In December, he averaged 3.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.1 minutes.
