It is revealed that Lillard may miss the entire next season, so Antetokounmpo may leave! Brave Fire Thunder Bear?

In the playoff G4 of the Bucks away challenge to the Pacers, Lillard suddenly fell to the ground without any confrontation in the first quarter, covered his left Achilles tendon in pain, and was then helped to leave the field. The next day, the MRI result confirmed that Lillard suffered a tear on his left Achilles tendon and announced that he would be reimbursed for the season and will undergo surgery. Medical expert Jeff Stotts pointed out that the average recovery period for NBA players' Achilles tendon tear is about 10 months, while Lillard's age (34 years old) is 54 days older than Kobe's Achilles tendon injury back then, and his condition is doubtful after his return.

Lillard played 58 games in the regular season this season, averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game, and a three-point shooting percentage of 37.6%. But he was in no form after forcibly returning to the playoffs - he averaged only 7 points per game in three games, shooting percentage 22.2% and three-pointers 18.8%. What's even more ironic is that he had just experienced thrombosis treatment for his right calf and returned after only less than a month of rest, which eventually led to a second serious injury.

After the Bucks officially announced that Lillard's season reimbursement, Forbes Sports reporter Evan Sidery revealed that Lillard is likely to miss the entire 2025-26 season, and the Bucks' championship plan completely collapsed. Currently, the Bucks are behind the Pacers 1-3, and are almost certain to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for two consecutive years.

Lillard's career is falling into a "injury cycle curse". A blood clot in his right calf made him miss many regular season games, but the Bucks doctor "quickly" approved his playoff comeback. The thrombus did not heal + high. Intensity competition directly leads to tear of the Achilles tendon. With such a "betting life-like" comeback, the short-sightedness of the team's management and medical team is fully highlighted. Lillard, 34, has two years and $113 million left in contract, and an Achilles tendon injury is almost a death penalty for veterans - referring to stars such as Cousins ​​and Wall, his athletic ability plummeted after his comeback. Even if he can return, it will be difficult to get back to his killer's true identity as a 71-pointer in a single game.

Obviously, Antetokounmpo's patience was slowly exhausted, and the Bucks had suffered injuries for three consecutive years to destroy their dream of winning the championship. Since winning the championship in 2021, the Bucks have suffered core injuries in the playoffs for three consecutive years: Middleton was reimbursed in 2023, Antetokounmpo's own knee injury in 2024, and Lillard and a laceration in 2025. Antetokounmpo tried his best this season - averaging 33.8 points and 14.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs, ranking first in the two data categories, but he couldn't help this group of teammates.

Now the Bucks' salary will be locked by Lillard in the next two years (annual salary exceeds $50 million), and it can no longer be strengthened. In addition, the team lacks the first round needed for reconstruction. The 30-year-old Antetokounmpo is in his peak period and it is impossible to accompany the Bucks to continue their first round or move towards reconstruction. Once this window is pierced, the Warriors, Rockets, Thunder, Grizzlies and other teams are eyeing each other. The Bucks traded to get Lillard, which was a big bet, sent away Holiday + multiple first-round picks in exchange for a 33-year-old defender with a defensive loophole. As a result, Lillard and Antetokounmpo never called - when they were on the court at the same time, the Bucks' offense was far lower than expected.

Knowing that Lillard's thrombosis had not been cured, he finally lost his core and his troops. Now the Bucks are facing the most brutal tax bill in the league ($120 million in luxury tax in 2025), but they may not even be able to make it into the first round of the playoffs. How can they win the championship? Antetokounmpo can carry the team for three years, but he can't carry a promise without a future.

If Antetokounmpo applies for a deal, it will trigger a chain reaction of earthquakes. Which team in the league doesn’t want this inside superstar? The Rockets have Jaylen Green + Shin Kyung + massive draft picks; the Thunder have 15 first-round picks in hand, and the Grizzlies' Morant + JJJ combination is also very attractive. What are the common points of these teams? Young talent + first round pick + salary space + championship ambition - all of them cannot be given by the Bucks. Once Antetokounmpo leaves, the Bucks will completely become a lottery team, and Lillard's big contract will also become tricky.

Of course, there is another team that may be Antetokounmpo's potential next home, that is the Golden State Warriors. You may say that the Warriors already have Curry and Butler's dual cores, and the team is likely to reach the Western Conference semi-finals. They can fully compete for the championship in the new season, and Antetokounmpo does not need Antetokounmpo; indeed, as fans, we like the Cuba combination very much, and the two can only say that they met too late. Don’t forget, the NBA is a pure commercial organization, and feelings may be just wishful thinking of fans, so that the US dollar will make the team boss smile.

The Warriors, as Curry grows older, do need a young superstar to inherit his mantle, but this person is by no means Butler, after all, he is already 35 years old. Look at the Los Angeles Lakers, can’t the core structure of James + Dark Brows win the championship? Why get Doncic? Of course, it is for the team's market value and box office revenue in the next decade, and the same is true for the Warriors boss's logic. If you can't figure out something, just think about the interests. After all, "the world is bustling, all comes for profit; the world is bustling, all comes for profit."

If the Warriors have the chance to get Antetokounmpo, I think Lakbo will not hesitate, even if he wants to offend the fans and send Butler + potential young player + first round pick, because this can maximize the benefits.

Perhaps we will really see such a scene, Antetokounmpo put on the Warriors' gown and joined forces with Curry to compete for the championship; and Lillard sat on the Bucks bench, watching his 110 million contract countdown - at that time everyone would understand that under the warm mask of professional sports, it was a cold business after all.