NBA won’t take further action over Bucks sitting Giannis Antetokounmpo late in season

The NBA’s investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks regarding the health status of Giannis Antetokounmpo at the end of the 2025-26 season has concluded, and the league has determined no further action is warranted, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN was first to report.

Antetokounmpo, 31, missed the final 15 games of the 2025-26 season following a left knee hyperextension on an awkward landing after a dunk during the third quarter of a March 15 win over the Indiana Pacers. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks had different opinions regarding the 10-time All-Star forward’s ability to play. The NBA opened an investigation into the matter on April 4.

The monthlong saga between player and team started in the immediate aftermath of Antetokounmpo’s knee hyperextension. Before the Bucks’ game on March 17, then-head coach Doc Rivers told reporters Antetokounmpo’s MRI came back clean.

“The good news was it was a really good image, so there was no damage. Nothing,” Rivers said. “It was really just good news. But I don’t know the next part (about a timeline for his return).”

Despite that seemingly positive news from Rivers, the Bucks listed Antetokounmpo as out with a bone bruise stemming from his knee hyperextension.

On March 18, The Athletic was first to report that Antetokounmpo rebuffed the Bucks’ suggestion to shut him down for the remainder of the season. With the Bucks not yet eliminated from playoff contention, Antetokounmpo wanted to get back on the floor. Despite that desire, the Bucks continued to list Antetokounmpo as out and insisted that he was not medically cleared to play.

One week later, the National Basketball Players Association released a statement asserting that Antetokounmpo was healthy and the Bucks were forcing him to sit as a tanking ploy to improve their position in the 2026 NBA Draft. In response to the NBPA’s statement and a question about Antetokounmpo following the Board of Governors meeting the next day, commissioner Adam Silver told reporters that the league would look into the situation.

“I’m available to play, but I’m not in the game,” Antetokounmpo told Milwaukee’s beat reporters on April 3. “I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available. Do I look like I’m not available? … I don’t know what game is being played right here, I just don’t wanna be a part of it.”

The Bucks insisted that Antetokounmpo was not healthy, but the league confirmed its investigation on April 4 by stating that “certain facts remain in dispute,”  including what Antetokounmpo had or had not been willing to do to get back on the court.