Photo Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Giannis Antetokounmpo Reveals Risk Of Playing In The 2021 NBA Finals: “If My Leg Had Hyperextended One More Time, I Was Done”

During Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee when he landed awkwardly after going up to contest an alley-oop attempt from John Collins to Clint Capela. 

The incident scared almost every NBA fan as it looked like Antetokounmpo suffered some sort of severe injury that could have derailed his NBA career. Luckily for the Bucks superstar, he was able to escape the worst and was able to play in the NBA Finals after missing the last two games of the ECF.

Now, months after their 2021 playoff campaign concluded, Antetokounmpo opened up the risk of playing in the 2021 NBA Finals after suffering a hyperextension on his left knee. According to reigning Finals MVP, he would’ve been done had he hyperextended his knee once more.

“What basically happened is that if my leg had hyperextended one more time, I was done.”

“There’s nothing to cut that was in there. It was torn already. Itwas out – (the piece that) protected me from an MCL or ACL (tear). There’s a thing (in your leg) that protects you when you hyperextend (your knee) that doesn’t let you go all the way back. So that thing was torn.”

“If my leg had hyperextended one more time…” Giannis said while smacking his hands together, “…I was done.”

The Bucks star opens up about his Finals scare, why he refused the Bucks’ brace, and whether they can all do it again, at @TheAthletichttps://t.co/z3ELYZu1BA

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) March 21, 2022