AP source: Giannis Antetokounmpo going to New York for evaluation of injured wrist

SALT LAKE CITY — Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo was scheduled to be in New York on Monday to undergo testing and get further evaluation on his injured right wrist, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday night because neither the Bucks nor Antetokounmpo released the plans publicly.

ESPN first reported that Antetokounmpo was going to New York, and it was later confirmed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Antetokounmpo injured his wrist Thursday night in Chicago after attempting to block a shot. Antetokounmpo exited after only nine minutes and did not return. He had X-rays and Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said at the time they came back clean.

But there evidently has not been much improvement in the wrist since. Antetokounmpo did not join his brothers as planned for the All-Star Skills Challenge on Saturday night in Utah — he was filled in for there by Bucks teammate and fellow All-Star Jrue Holiday.

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Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo lies by the basket after injuring his right wrist during the second quarter on Thursday, Feb 16, 2023 at the United Center in Chicago.

CHARLES REX ARBOGAST, ASSOCIATED PRESS

And he played only 20 seconds in his team’s victory over Team LeBron in the All-Star Game on Sunday night, getting a dunk on the first possession, then taking a foul and heading to the bench to basically become a coach for the rest of the night.

“Taking it day by day, try to get healthy,” Antetokounmpo said after the game. “You know, obviously I had the incident three days ago. I don’t think it’s smart in any way to, you know, play a lot of minutes in the All-Star Game. At the end of the day, obviously, you want to participate, you want to run up and down, joke around, have some dunks, create some work. But at the end of the day, I feel you also have to be mature.”

He did not give any hint that the wrist issue is more serious than a sprain.

“Hopefully, I can, you know, be available for my team when they need me,” Antetokounmpo said.

Milwaukee has the NBA’s second-best record coming out of the All-Star break at 41-17, a half-game behind Boston in the Eastern Conference.

Antetokounmpo is third in the NBA in scoring at 31.8 points per game, behind only Dallas’ Luka Doncic (33.3) and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (33.1).

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 5 most memorable moments with the Milwaukee Bucks May 10, 1974: Skyhook winner in double overtime of Finals

Milwaukee Bucks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, right, lays up a winning basket over Boston Celtics Hank Finkel (29) to defeat the Boston Celtics 102-101 and tie the series at 3-3 in their NBA Championship game, Friday, May 11, 1974, Boston, Mass. Watching is Bucks Jon McGlocklin (14), and Oscar Robertson (1). (AP Photo)

AP

Abdul-Jabbar possessed in his arsenal what many deem as the most lethal scoring weapon in league history. 

Abdul-Jabbar’s go-to move, the skyhook, took center stage for one of the most exciting Finals games ever. Abdul-Jabbar drained his classic shot with 3 seconds remaining in double overtime to propel the Bucks to a 102-101 road victory at the Celtics to force a Game 7 of the 1974 NBA Finals. 

The Celtics stormed back from down 11 to tie the game at 86 with an 18-foot jump shot from Hall of Famer Dave Cowens with 1:05 left in regulation. In double overtime, John Havlicek scored nine of his 36 points, including a 15-foot baseline jump shot to give the Celtics the lead with seven seconds to go. 

On the deciding basket, Abdul-Jabbar took three dribbles and converted the dagger along the right baseline on a tough angle. It turns out, Abdul-Jabbar wasn’t even intended as the first option on the next play. 

Havlicek, the eventual Finals MVP, marveled at the degree of difficulty on Abdul-Jabbar’s game-winner. 

March 21, 1973: Triple-double with career high for assists

Abdul-Jabbar’s versatility was perhaps at its peak during a 119-96 rout vs. the Supersonics in 1973. 

Abdul-Jabbar recorded 36 points, along with a career-high 14 assists, and 11 rebounds for a triple-double. Behind Abdul-Jabbar’s proficient passing performance, the Bucks had six players with double-digit point totals. 

Abdul-Jabbar made 15 of his 24 shots and added six free throw conversions. Abdul-Jabbar also impressively remained out of foul trouble despite his high activity level, with only two in his 45 minutes. 

While Abdul-Jabbar is rightfully remembered as being one of the sport’s most gifted scorers, this performance is evidence that he was a willing and successful facilitator as well. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 5 most memorable moments with the Milwaukee Bucks

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, poses for a photo with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after James become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Marcio Jose Sanchez

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s stint as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is complete after 38 years. 

The legendary center was on hand Feb. 7 when Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James surpassed his storied mark of 38,387 with 38 points in a 133-130 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Abdul-Jabbar’s fame rose expeditiously upon his trade to the Lakers in 1975, when he teamed up with fellow Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and James Worthy to form the Showtime dynasty. The Lakers captured five championships during Abdul-Jabbar’s tenure, as he collected three regular-season MVPs and the 1985 NBA Finals MVP. 

However, Abdul-Jabbar’s first six seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks put the league on notice of his impending dominance. In tandem with the transcendent Oscar Robertson, Abdul-Jabbar (formerly known as Lew Alcindor) guided the Bucks to the franchise’s first championship in 1971 and earned NBA Finals MVP. 

It took another half century for the Bucks to earn another championship when Giannis Antetokounmpo spearheaded the end of the drought as the 2021 NBA Finals MVP. 

Here are Abdul-Jabbar’s most memorable moments with the Bucks. 

Dec. 10, 1971: Beatdown of Boston with career-high 55 points

Abdul-Jabbar played in 1,560 regular season contests and his greatest scoring outburst occurred during his second season. 

Abdul-Jabbar exploded for 55 points and 18 rebounds in the Bucks’ 120-104 home victory vs. the Boston Celtics. Abdul-Jabbar netted 23 of his 36 shots and drained 9 of his 11 free throws. 

Abdul-Jabbar outdueled Celtics star guard John Havlicek, who finished with 32 points and nine rebounds. 

Abdul-Jabbar was the clear focal point of the offensive attack, with 15 more shot attempts than the second-highest scoring Bucks player (Bob Dandrige, 23 points), and as Robertson struggled with 14 points on 4-for-11 shooting. 

1971: Finals MVP and Bucks’ first championship

Wesley D. Pavalon, right, presents trophy to Bucks center Lew Alcindor at ceremonies before Bucks-Los Angeles Lakers playoff game in Milwaukee at night on April 10, 1971. Alcindor was named the NBA Most Valuable player and won the league’s high scoring crown. Lew’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Alcindor of New York, which did their son’s recognition. (AP Photo)

Anonymous

Anchored by Abdul-Jabbar and Robertson, the 66-win Bucks secured the top record in the NBA during the 1970-71 season. The Bucks set a then-NBA record with 20 consecutive victories and Abdul-Jabbar collected his first MVP. 

The Bucks topped the then-San Francisco Warriors 4-1 in the first round, then finished off the Lakers in five games to set up a Finals matchup vs. the Baltimore Bullets. 

Fueled by Abdul-Jabbar’s brilliance, the Bucks swept the Bullets to earn the first championship in franchise history. Abdul-Jabbar outperformed Hall-of-Fame center Wes Unseld to earn Finals MVP. Abdul-Jabbar averaged 27 points and 18.5 rebounds, while shooting .605 from the field during the series. 

The Bucks won all four games by at least nine points, with the widest margin being the 102-83 victory in Game 2. Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks in scoring in the first two games with 31 points and then 27 points. In both games, Abdul-Jabbar had double-doubles as he snagged 17 rebounds in Game 1 and 24 boards in Game 2. 

In the clinching victory, Abdul-Jabbar showcased his versatility with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.

1969-70: Rookie of the Year

Lew Alcindor (33) of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks on Philadelphia 76ers George Wilson (16) in their Eastern Division playoff game on March 30, 1970 in Philadelphia. The Bucks set an NBA playoff scoring record routing the 76ers 156-120 to take 2-1 lead in best of seven semi-final series (AP Photo/Bill Ingraham)

Bill Ingraham

After a historic college career at UCLA, the Bucks selected Abdul-Jabbar with the No. 1 pick in the 1969 NBA Draft. 

Abdul-Jabbar immediately set the tone with one of the greatest debuts by a rookie.  

On Oct. 18, 1969, Abdul-Jabbar tallied game highs of 29 points and 12 rebounds along with six assists in the Bucks’ 119-110 victory vs. the visiting Detroit Pistons. Abdul-Jabbar shot 12 for 27 from the field while converting 5 of 8 free throws.

Abdul-Jabbar would dazzle the rest of the season with his signature skyhook shot, culminating with being selected as the NBA Rookie of the Year. Abdul-Jabbar averaged 28.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists during his outstanding first pro season.

Abdul-Jabbar amassed 51 points in a 140-127 victory vs. the Seattle Supersonics on Feb. 21, 1970. 

Abdul-Jabbar’s presence catapulted the Bucks to a 29-win improvement from the previous season. Abdul-Jabbar then stepped his game up to an even higher level, as he set an NBA rookie record with 10 games of at least 20-plus points. 

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