Giannis Antetokounmpo is one win away from playing in his first NBA Finals. Nonetheless, the status of his left knee puts his presence at that stage in jeopardy.
Recently, a report said that he could be cleared to make his return in a hypothetical Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. However, former NBA Champion Channing Frye just doesn’t see that happening:
“There is no way he can do it. I’ve done it and we were talking with Shaq last night. It took us six weeks and I’d wear a brace just to be comfortable,” Frye said on The Dan Patrick Show. “Unless there is some new type of technology that I don’t know of, I don’t think we see him this series. And then if they do win, which I think they are…. I don’t know if we see him for you know 3 or 4 games into the NBA finals.”
Not to be pessimistic but Frye may have a valid point right there. Knee issues could be career-threatening and there’s just no chance that the Milwaukee Bucks medical team will risk their franchise player and most valuable asset with that many years left in his career.
There’s absolutely no doubt that Giannis would kill and die to be out there on the court with his teammates but he’s got to look at the bigger picture right there.
Hopefully, we’re all wrong and Giannis is in fact able to make his return without putting his health at risk, as we’d love to see him at his best playing at basketball’s ultimate stage.
Then again, first, they need to close out their series vs. the Atlanta Hawks tonight, which is going to be easier said than done without the Greek Freak.
