After the way Giannis Antetokounmpo started his week, this was the last thing Milwaukee needed. The Bucks star just came back from an injury and stirred ‘checked out’ rumors. Now disaster struck in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons.

Right after he helps AJ Green make a layup, Giannis suddenly dropped to the floor. Barely three minutes into the game and it was when the Bucks were down 4-19. He seems to say he hurt his tendon.

The cameras captured his brother Thanassis looking very tense on the bench while the rest of their teammates help Giannis up. Giannis walked himself to the locker and Thanassis followed. Neither has returned yet.

The team officially ruled him out for the rest of the game after the first quarter ended. According to the initial report, Giannis suffered a calf strain in his right leg. Giannis had 2 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist by then. Bucks are down 21-30 going into the second quarter.

It was a non-contact injury except a little brush with a Pistons player while passing the ball to Green. Giannis had a somewhat delayed reaction. Given the way this week has gone, fans have a little hard time empathizing.

Sympathy in short supply for Giannis Antetokoounmpo

A left groin strain sidelined Giannis Antetokounmpo for four games last month. So his return came with a little fanfare. Until his third game back against the Washington Wizards ended in a 129-126 loss for the Bucks.

Giannis was great offensively, he had 26 points. But the Bucks’ defensive lapses overall were glaring. There were points in the game where spectators felt Giannis was upset that Doc Rivers didn’t contest the refs on his behalf. Other times it looked like the Greek Freak was not himself.

Then right after the game, Giannis scrubbed traces of the Bucks off his social media barring the 2024 NBA Cup celebrations. That spawned rumors that he’s checked out before NBA insiders actually reported that his agent has asked for a trade.

Now Giannis Antetokounmpo is the favorite trade target because of rumors that Doc Rivers has dismissed. Rivers vehemently said, “There have been no conversations. I want to make it clear, I would say one more time, but for the 50th time. . .Giannis has never asked to be traded, ever. I can’t make that more clear.”

Yet he’s not convinced fans. Until last week, fans would’ve been clutching their chests and pulling their hair at the thought of Giannis’ re-injury. Now they’re cynical.

Especially given the non-contact nature of it. Antetokounmpo looked fine to the casual observer before he plonked on the floor and declared he hurt his tendon.

But the risk of re-aggravating an injury or causing a new one from favoring one side was always there. Since the team ruled him out, we have to assume it’s that bad. If it entails missing a game or more remains to be seen.