The Milwaukee Bucks are in the middle of a tough battle with the Atlanta Hawks.
The winner of this series will be heading to the NBA Finals.
It would be a huge moment for either franchise.
This Bucks team can avenge all of their playoff failures from the previous seasons by winning two more games.
There is one problem with that.
Their superstar player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, suffered a nasty looking injury in Game 4.
Giannis appears to have injured his leg.
Prayers up 🙏 pic.twitter.com/cHZXCIsBEd
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2021
We all gasped as we saw him fall down and hold onto his knee.
The replay did not help matters.
Several injuries have put a sour taste in our mouths this season.
This one did not feel right in the moment.
Luckily, it was only a hyperextension of the knee, and there was no structural damage.
There is no structural damage to Giannis Antetokounmpo's left knee after his awkward landing last night in Atlanta; ligaments are sound, sources tell @ZachLowe_NBA and me. Timetable to return is unclear.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2021
However, this injury is not something that can heal up in a matter of days.
Should he try and force himself to play through the injury?
Or should he wait and see if his team can get it done without him?
Here are both sides of the argument.
No, Long-Term Health Is More Important
Antetokounmpo’s injury was frightening on the initial watch.
It looked as if it was all over for him.
A potential torn ACL would have been a sad way to end this season, and most likely next season as well.
Good thing that it was not what we all feared.
However, the Bucks could let him heal the injury.
Antetokounmpo is only 26 years old and has more years of great basketball left to play.
This season is a perfect chance of winning a title, but there should be more opportunities with a player of his caliber on the team.
The chance of winning is very enticing, but the organization has to look at his long-term health.
There is no guarantee to winning a title, whether it is this year or the future.
The risk of him playing and getting seriously injured is too great.
Yes, The Title Is Right There
The Bucks may not get this chance again.
They are two wins away from the NBA Finals to play against the Phoenix Suns.
You never know when it will be the last time you can be this close again.
The Brooklyn Nets are coming back fully healthy next season with their big three.
Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are coming back with a new roster most likely.
The Miami Heat might make a big move this offseason to make another run at the NBA Finals.
This Bucks team will be the same next year.
Their core group of players are all locked in for the most part.
They cannot make any changes to combat the other teams.
The moment is right now.
Antetokounmpo’s injury is scary, but you might have to risk it for a championship just this once.
It might not be the smartest move to play him as soon as possible.
However, a title is on the line.
The Bucks and Antetokounmpo both want this title and that is why he might have to play.
Hell no! He shouldn’t play! Not only will he slow down the team down. His assets are speed and athleticism. And those attributes are not going to be there tonight. Not to mention he’ll injure his leg even worse, and have no chance next game, or next round. Let him sit! There’s enough veteran players on the Bucks Squad that they should be able to get this done at home tonight. The coaches and the veterans should be firing this team up like no tomorrow for tonight. “Go out there and punch these boys in the mouth!!! Go out there and fight goddammit!!!!”