Latest news with #hyperextendedknee
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I still feel it and I think I'm going to feel it until I die" - Giannis Antetokounmpo on the lingering effect of playing through a hyperextended knee in the 2021 NBA Finals
"I still feel it and I think I'm going to feel it until I die" - Giannis Antetokounmpo on the lingering effect of playing through a hyperextended knee in the 2021 NBA Finals originally appeared on Basketball Network. Back in the 2021 NBA playoffs, particularly in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a gruesome injury which led him to believe that not only was his season over, but so was the year after. Antetokounmpo — known for being the toughest and strongest competitor on the floor on most nights — was seen in visible pain after his knee bent backward, resulting in the consensus belief that he had suffered an ACL injury. Turns out, Giannis ended up with a hypextended knee injury and even though it was less severe as compared to an ACL or MCL injury, he wasn't supposed to come back right away. But it was the NBA Finals and the Greek Freak decided to take the risk and play through it which paid dividends because it led to a championship. However, playing through a hypextended knee at that time also had its consequences. "My leg was the opposite way," Giannis told GQ in 2021. "To this day, I feel the effect, the traumatic stress. I still feel it, and I think I'm going to feel it until I die." Giannis risked it all for a championship If Antetokounmpo were asked today if he'd play through a hyperextended knee again, given that he'd feel the long-term effects of it, he wouldn't hesitate to say yes, since it led to a championship. Even if it meant putting his career on the line, the nine-time All-Star got through arguably one of the most challenging decisions of his life, with the best possible outcome, being the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. "What basically happened is that if my leg had hyperextended one more time," Antetokounmpo said. "I was done. I was done. There's nothing to cut that was in there. It was torn already. It was 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. So if I had gone all the way back again, that'd be it for me." Antetokounmpo ended up playing all six games of the finals and averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 steals per game in 39.8 minutes that also led him to win the finals MVP. It was a legendary performance that will go down as one of the best in NBA history. Lingering effect to this day Giannis has consistently dealt with leg injuries since the 2021 NBA Finals. Therefore it seems he was right when he predicted the ripple effects of playing through a serious hyperextended knee injury for the rest of his life. Over the last couple of years, the one-time champion has endured calf issues as well as knee problems that even kept him out of the playoffs and affected the Bucks' chances to compete for a championship. While only those close to Antetokounmpo can determine whether that's because of playing through the 2021 hyperextension or not, he's definitely been more hurt than usual lately. One can only hope Giannis never finds himself in a similar situation story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I still feel it and I think I'm going to feel it until I die" - Giannis Antetokounmpo on the lingering effect of playing through a hyperextended knee in the 2021 NBA Finals
"I still feel it and I think I'm going to feel it until I die" - Giannis Antetokounmpo on the lingering effect of playing through a hyperextended knee in the 2021 NBA Finals originally appeared on Basketball Network. Back in the 2021 NBA playoffs, particularly in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a gruesome injury which led him to believe that not only was his season over, but so was the year after. Antetokounmpo — known for being the toughest and strongest competitor on the floor on most nights — was seen in visible pain after his knee bent backward, resulting in the consensus belief that he had suffered an ACL injury. Turns out, Giannis ended up with a hypextended knee injury and even though it was less severe as compared to an ACL or MCL injury, he wasn't supposed to come back right away. But it was the NBA Finals and the Greek Freak decided to take the risk and play through it which paid dividends because it led to a championship. However, playing through a hypextended knee at that time also had its consequences. "My leg was the opposite way," Giannis told GQ in 2021. "To this day, I feel the effect, the traumatic stress. I still feel it, and I think I'm going to feel it until I die." Giannis risked it all for a championship If Antetokounmpo were asked today if he'd play through a hyperextended knee again, given that he'd feel the long-term effects of it, he wouldn't hesitate to say yes, since it led to a championship. Even if it meant putting his career on the line, the nine-time All-Star got through arguably one of the most challenging decisions of his life, with the best possible outcome, being the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. "What basically happened is that if my leg had hyperextended one more time," Antetokounmpo said. "I was done. I was done. There's nothing to cut that was in there. It was torn already. It was 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. So if I had gone all the way back again, that'd be it for me." Antetokounmpo ended up playing all six games of the finals and averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 steals per game in 39.8 minutes that also led him to win the finals MVP. It was a legendary performance that will go down as one of the best in NBA history. Lingering effect to this day Giannis has consistently dealt with leg injuries since the 2021 NBA Finals. Therefore it seems he was right when he predicted the ripple effects of playing through a serious hyperextended knee injury for the rest of his life. Over the last couple of years, the one-time champion has endured calf issues as well as knee problems that even kept him out of the playoffs and affected the Bucks' chances to compete for a championship. While only those close to Antetokounmpo can determine whether that's because of playing through the 2021 hyperextension or not, he's definitely been more hurt than usual lately. One can only hope Giannis never finds himself in a similar situation story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
