Bucks' Teletovic denies report his career is over

Milwaukee Bucks forward Mirza Teletovic is currently sidelined due to blood clots in his lungs, the second time he's dealt with pulmonary emboli in the past three years.

As a result of that dangerous and recurring condition, sources told Bucks reporter Gery Woelfel that Teletovic won't get medical clearance to play in the NBA again. That report would seem to fit with the situation involving Chris Bosh, who has similarly dealt with multiple instances of blood clots in his lungs and hasn't played in over two years.

Teletovic, though, flatly denied the report shortly after it surfaced.

It's possible Woelfel's information is wrong, but it's also possible this is a case of team and player not being aligned on a health issue. Bosh, remember, was likewise adamant he'd be able to return, but Miami Heat doctors basically refused to clear him.

That's not to say Teletovic is being untruthful or willfully naive, but the decision on when or if he returns to NBA gameplay will ultimately be up to the Bucks' medical staff, not him.

The 32-year-old averaged 7.1 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range in 10 games for the Bucks before being shut down in November (first for arthroscopic knee surgery, and later for the blood clots). He has one year and $10.5 million left on his contract after this season.