What is the sprained wrist recovery time? Looking at Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury which forced him to exit game against Chicago Bulls

Giannis Antetokounmpo exited with still over 10 minutes left in the second quarter of the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. Antetokounmpo attempted a chase-down block of Coby White’s layup before falling to the floor on top of the Bulls guard and injuring his wrist.

The NBA All-Star team captain immediately went to the locker room for further tests. He didn’t come out to start the second half and was officially ruled out of the game per Bucks team officials.

A sprained wrist is common among basketball players at all levels. How long Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sidelined will depend on the severity of the injury.

“The Greek Freak” seemed to brace his fall on White, which forced him to put out his hand. It slipped just a little, but it was enough to have him grimacing in pain. He was in more pain than White, who was also a little shaken up.

Antetokounmpo will likely undergo an X-ray or MRI to determine the extent of the injury. If there’s a tiny tear, then he shouldn’t be out for long. The worst-case scenario could be a break in the ligament, which will force him to have a long layoff.

Surgery may sometimes even be required based on the doctor’s diagnosis.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury

Giannis Antetokounmpo's return will depend on the severity of his injured wrist.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a staple in the Milwaukee Bucks’ injury report for more than two months. He is a constant on the list due to nagging soreness in his right knee. Antetokounmpo has already missed 11 games this season, nine of which were due to the problematic knee.

The injured wrist could be a potential headache if it needs surgery. Milwaukee will only have 22 games left after the All-Star break. Antetokounmpo will be in a race against time to get back on the court should an operation on his wrist be needed.

There have been varying lengths of NBA players getting sidelined due to a wrist injury. Jayson Tatum admitted that he played with a fractured wrist during the 2022 NBA playoffs. He was available in every Boston Celtics game, although he struggled in the finals.

Last year, Alex Caruso also fractured his right wrist, which caused him to miss six weeks of game time. He picked up the injury after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s teammate, Grayson Allen, took Caruso down while going for a layup.

Caruso’s wrist required surgery and forced him to sit out for almost two months. The Chicago Bulls struggled badly on the defensive end without their best perimeter stopper. Caruso’s versatility was another missing element that the Bulls couldn’t compensate for.

If Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury is of the same scale as that of Caruso’s, the Milwaukee Bucks’ season could be in serious trouble. The seven-time All-Star has a bigger impact on the Bucks than Caruso has on the Bulls.

Antetokounmpo has played in the Milwaukee Bucks’ last 11 games after sitting out the previous five due to a sore right knee. Since his return, he has been averaging 37.2 points, on 58.4% shooting from the field, including 34.2% from long range.

The Greek superstar also added 13.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game during the same stretch. It’s fair to say the Bucks don’t have anyone who can come close to matching those figures. They’ll even find it hard to replicate those numbers by committee.

Hopefully, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury is only minimal and nothing ice and rest will not heal in a few days.