Thanasis has torn Achilles
Thanasis Antetokounmpo had successful surgery on a torn Achilles tendon and has begun the early stage of the rehabilitation process, per a league source.
Antetokounmpo, who will turn 32 years old on July 18, just finished his fifth season with the Milwaukee Bucks and will become an unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year deal last summer.
Details about the nature of the injury have not yet been disclosed.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo was expected to be a big part of the Greek national team's effort, alongside his younger brothers Giannis and Kostas, to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris. Greece must win a qualifying tournament the week of July 2-7.
A member of the 2020-21 Bucks championship team, Thanasis Antetokounmpo has played in 196 games in Milwaukee over the last five seasons.
Antetokounmpo is a wildly popular teammate and fan favorite and known in Greece as “The Elevator” for his prolific leaping ability and thunderous dunks.
— Jim Owczarski
HOCKEY
Rookie Zach L’Heureux scored two goals in the first minute and the Milwaukee Admirals beat the Texas Stars, 5-3, Sunday at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena to advance to the AHL Central Division finals.
After losing the first two games on the road, the Admirals won three games in five days on home ice to advance to meet the Grand Rapids Griffins.
L'Heureux also scored the first two goals in their Game 4 victory Friday and one in Game 3. With nine points, he is part of a three-way tie for second in Calder Cup playoff scoring.
Brookfield native Troy Grosenick finished the series 3-0 in goal, making 29 saves Sunday to finish the series with 81 saves against 88 shots on goal.
The next playoff series follows a more traditional five-game format, starting with games in Milwaukee at 7 p.m. Wednesday and May 20. The Griffins are scheduled to host Game 3 on May 22 and a possible Game 4 on May 24 with a possible Game 5 at 5 p.m. May 26 in Milwaukee.
NFL
Game 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season features the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 5.
The Week 1 headliner was confirmed by the league as the build-up begins for a full schedule release on Wednesday night with select marquee games and dates made official by the NFL.
The Chiefs beat the Ravens, 17-10, in the AFC Championship game to reach the Super Bowl, where Kansas City topped the San Francisco 49ers.
Previously the NFL confirmed Game 2 of the NFL season would feature the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, Sept. 6, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It's the first time a regular-season game is being played in South America.
Winfield rewarded: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a four-year with safety Antoine Winfield Jr. that multiple outlets reported is worth $84.1 million. The agreement makes Winfield the highestpaid defensive back in NFL history based on average annual value.
Winfield is coming off an All-Pro campaign in which he established himself as one of the NFL's most well-rounded defensive players. He tied for the league lead with six forced fumbles while also recording six sacks, three interceptions, four fumble recoveries and 12 passes defensed on top of his 122 total tackles.
NBA
Bronny James, who was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and is the eldest son of NBA superstar LeBron James, was cleared by the NBA's Fitness to Play Panel, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
James, who played at Southern California during his freshman season in 2023-24, has entered his name in the draft and put his name in the NCAA's transfer portal. To retain their college basketball eligibility, college players who have entered draft must withdraw by May 29.
James sustained a life-threatening sudden cardiac arrest in July while working out on the USC campus. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and cleared to return to full basketball activities in late November.
BOXING
British middleweight Sherif Lawal has died after collapsing in the ring during his professional debut on Sunday, fight organizers said.
The British Boxing Board of Control sent a note of condolences on Monday.
Media reports said Lawal, 29, was hit on the temple in the fourth of six scheduled rounds at London's Harrow Leisure Centre against Portuguese opponent Malam Varela.
– Staff and wire reports