Giannis Antetokounmpo has addressed one of the biggest topics in the NBA in recent days, players sitting out games. This has raised a lot of eyebrows around the league, with media members and fans criticizing players for taking breaks when they should be playing.
Just like Kawhi Leonard last year, the Brooklyn Nets are receiving a lot of criticism for ‘resting’ their players in recent matches. On Wednesday, they faced the Philadelphia 76ers and Kevin Durant, James Harden, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge (who would retire on Thursday due to a heart condition) were all inactive. This situation has sparked a lot of reactions around the league and anybody has an opinion about it. For Giannis, you have to listen to doctors regardless of how annoying it can be for players and fans.
“I think this is the first time in my career I kind of took it well because I was in pain. So, I was like, “OK, if you want me to sit out a game, I’ll sit out a game.”
“But then it was the 2nd game and then the 3rd game and then the 4th game and then you start getting frustrated. Then, with the Minnesota game, I was ready to play, but at the end of the day, you know they’re going to make the decision based on my health and I gotta listen.”
"But then it was the 2nd game and then the 3rd game and then the 4th game and then you start getting frustrated. Then, with the Minnesota game, I was ready to play, but at the end of the day, you know they're going to make the decision based on my health and I gotta listen." – GA
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) April 16, 2021
“It was hard being out and missing games, but I enjoyed watching my teammates do what they do.” pic.twitter.com/GAxJjV8Wwr
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 16, 2021
He returned to the court after missing the past six games with the Bucks, scoring 15 points in 25 minutes in the Bucks’ 120-109 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Perhaps fans think the players just decide they don’t want to play one game and the teams do the dirty job to place them on the injury report.
Well, it’s bigger than that and in a shortened and compressed season, they need to find ways to keep their players as healthy as they can. Giannis isn’t somebody who would like to go through that again but he’s willing to listen to doctors to make the right decision for him and his team.
