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In Street Clothes

Covering sports injuries from the perspective of a certified athletic trainer and backed by analytics.

Understanding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Soleus Strain

On the cusp of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Bucks forward and MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo limped off the court with a non-contact lower leg injury. The team later stated he would not return to the game with a soleus strain.

The calf muscle is not actually a muscle, it is dynamic muscle complex that includes the gastrocnemius and soleus. These muscles share a conjoined tendon, the Achilles, and work together to point the toes in a direction known as plantar flexion. The calf is also involved in knee flexion and plays an integral role in acceleration and other explosive movements. The soleus additionally plays a role in postural stabilization, steadying the tibia and preventing forward sway.

Determining time lost for this type of injury can be tricky. Most strains that involve one of these muscles are simply reported as a calf strain. There have been multiple cases where the involved muscle, whether the gastrocnemius, soleus, or plantaris, have been made public but provide a much smaller sample size.

Since the 2005-06 NBA season, in-season, non-descript calf strains result in an average time lost of 13.7 days (~5 games). The number is slightly higher for strains specified as soleus injuries resulting in an average time lost of 17 days (~6 games). The most recent case of a confirmed soleus strain was last season when Giannis’ current teammate Damian Lillard missed 15 days and seven games while with Portland. 

Antetokounmpo will now undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury with head coach Doc Rivers confirming postgame concerns about the calf and Achilles. A low-grade strain would likely be the best-case scenario for the Bucks and would make the extra time off avoiding the play-in particularly important. A Grade 2 strain would be a significant setback as these injuries, also known as partial tears, come with a considerably longer timeline (~45 days, 21 games). Look for an update to come in the near future, one that could send shockwaves across the Eastern Conference landscape.