Giannis: My knee injury stemmed from playing too much
Giannis Antetokounmpo was in dire need of a break.
The Milwaukee Bucks superstar has missed a few games this season due to nagging soreness in his right knee, and recently opened up about the issue.
"The problem is that I play too much," Antetokounmpo told Eurohoops' Varlas Nikos.
Antetokounmpo insisted that nothing else is wrong with the knee, and indicated all he needs is more rest.
"This summer I had no time to rest. After the playoffs, I went straight to the gym ... And that's how the situation deteriorated. After this season, I will have time to rest," the 23-year-old explained.
The Greek Freak sat out one game in late December and two more last month with the mysterious ailment, and felt much better upon his return to the lineup.
| Days of rest | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | TS% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 11 | 38.5 | 54.7 | 23.8 | 77.1 | 12.4 | 5.1 | 30.2 |
| 1 | 25 | 36 | 53.3 | 25 | 74.1 | 9 | 4.6 | 26.3 |
| 2 | 11 | 37.2 | 49.3 | 32 | 73.4 | 11.3 | 5.2 | 25.4 |
| 3+ | 5 | 38.1 | 64 | 50 | 77.8 | 10.2 | 4.6 | 33.6 |
He leads his team in points, rebounds, and assists and ranks second in the NBA with 37 minutes per outing.
Antetokounmpo suited up in Sunday's All-Star Game - his second - and posted 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists for Team Stephen. He has a few days off before his Bucks visit the Toronto Raptors on Friday.