Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer says Giannis Antetokounmpo is a “day-to-day” proposition ahead of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns.
Antetokounmpo hyperextended his knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals series against the Atlanta Hawks, which the Bucks clinched with a 118-107 win on Saturday.
The Greek forward was on the bench cheering on his teammates in Game 6, as well as Game 5, having not returned to play since suffering the injury.
The Finals are due to commence in Phoenix on Tuesday, with Antetokounmpo’s availability remaining a central talking point.
“He and the sports performance team, they have been together a long time,” Budenholzer said. “You have to listen to the player and then you have to listen to the sports performance group, and at some point Jon Horst and myself are part of the conversations, but it’s just a day-to-day thing.
“We’ll update it when appropriate. The conversations between he and myself and he and the sports performance group, it’s kind of private and we’ll see where he is each day.”
Budenholzer was reluctant to divulge too much information when asked if Antetokounmpo had hit the court or joined training.
“He did go on the court. I wasn’t with him and didn’t see it,” he said. “So exactly what, I don’t know, but I bet he did go on the court.”
The Suns have a relatively clean bill of health, with Chris Paul overcoming a shoulder complaint early in the playoffs as well as testing positive to COVID-19 to help them defeat the Los Angeles Clippers.
