Giannis Antetokounmpo injury update: Bucks star cleared from concussion protocol, will return vs. Celtics

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be back on the floor Thursday.

The 23-year-old Bucks power forward has been cleared from the concussion protocol and will play against the Celtics, the team announced Wednesday. Antetokounmpo was held out of Milwaukee’s 124-109 win over the Raptors earlier this week.

Giannis practiced today and is cleared to return tomorrow. #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/tGKh0eMDWv

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 31, 2018

Antetokounmpo originally suffered the head injury in his team’s win over the Magic on Saturday. He was permitted to return to that game after being cleared by a neurologist but was evaluated again one day later after reporting new symptoms.

“When you've never suffered from something, you don't know about it,” Antetokounmpo said Wednesday (via The Athletic ). “When I got hit in the head and had the short memory loss, then I realized it's a serious thing.

“It's kind of scary because, you know, you get hit in the head and you feel pain for 10 seconds. But it was lingering, and I had a headache the next day and it was kind of bad, but at the time, I felt great. I wanted to play."

Antetokounmpo has been one of the best players in the NBA this season. He has averaged 25 points, 14.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists in six games.

The undefeated Bucks will face the 5-2 Celtics in Boston on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.