The biggest question on everyone’s minds when Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with a hyperextended knee injury in Game 4: what’s the typical recovery time?
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with a gruesome-looking knee injury in Game 4. The two-time MVP returned to the team’s bench, but with the team down big, he did not return. Naturally, everyone in the basketball world is wondering whether will Giannis be available in Game 5.
While we don’t know the severity of his injury yet, according to WebMD, it typically takes 1-2 weeks to recover from a hyperextended knee injury. It’ll take longer if there is any ligament damage, which at this point we don’t know whether Antetokounmpo has. You can walk on a hyperextended knee, but jumping, changing directions, and, you know, basketball movements are difficult with such an injury.
The fact that Giannis has suffered injuries to the same knee in the past is also not a good sign.
Re: Giannis: He clearly hyperextended the left knee but multiple structures can be injured with this mechanism. It is worth noting he previously sprained the joint capsule in this same knee in March of 2020. Hoping he somehow avoided significant injury.
— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) June 30, 2021
How long will Giannis Antetokounmpo be out?
The over-arching point here is it’s questionable at best that Giannis will be able to play in Game 5. It was not surprising when the team listed him as doubtful for Thursday’s pivotal matchup.
Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a hyperextended left knee and will be listed as doubtful for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals tomorrow night at Fiserv Forum. pic.twitter.com/mDGsTRpOVL
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 30, 2021
Otherwise, there’s a chance Giannis can return later in the series or by the NBA Finals if they close it out before he’s ready.