An investigation began in early April into how the Bucks handled the player participation policy and into potential inconsistencies in statements regarding Antetokounmpo’s health.
The league interviewed Antetokounmpo’s side, the Bucks and team doctors, Charania reported on April 3, with all sides reportedly telling the investigators different stories.
Antetokounmpo didn’t play after hyperextending his left knee on March 15. However, he told reporters shortly after that he had actually been healthy for weeks.
“You know who you are dealing with,” Antetokounmpo said, per The Athletic‘s Eric Nehm. “So for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.
“I’ve never seen a case of a player saying, my calibre of player, that’s like — I’m saying it publicly — I want to (expletive) play. You know what I’m saying? I don’t think I’ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we figure something out.”
Milwaukee finished the season outside the playoff picture with a 32-50 record and saw its first-round pick land at No. 10 overall during Sunday’s draft lottery.
With Antetokounmpo and the Bucks’ decision-makers not quite seeing eye to eye at this point, the two-time MVP’s future with the organization seems to be up in the air.
Charania reported Monday that Milwaukee is “open for business” on trade calls for Antetokounmpo after co-owner Jimmy Haslam said that the team wants a resolution on the star’s future before the June 23 draft.