Giannis Antetokounmpo is two games in since returning from the calf injury that sidelined him for the majority of December. 

The Milwaukee Bucks have won both of those games, a welcome sign that represents the impact that their star player has on the team. The Bucks are 3-11 this season in games without Antetokounmpo and his absence is apparent on the floor as Milwaukee's offensive scheme seemingly falls apart if he isn't there to draw defenders or create space.

Considering the impact that Antetokounmpo has on the Bucks' chances of success, it's natural for the team to want to protect his health as much as possible, especially considering how dangerous a calf injury can be for a basketball player. 

That effort to protect their star has meant putting him on a minute restriction in his first few games back. Antetokounmpo has played exactly 25 minutes in each of the last two games. However, this time management may not be to Antetokounmpo's liking, even if it is meant to protect him.

"I don't like when I play with minute restrictions. I hate that," Antetokounmpo said (via Bucks). "I feel like I'm being rushed and I got to set the tone and put the game away in such a short bit of time."

Even if the Greek Freak has felt held back by his limited minutes, his numbers haven't shown it. Antetokounmpo has scored a combined 53 points in his last two games back while shooting over 65% from the field in each. 

Even if he's not on the court as often as he would like, Antetokounmpo is determined to make as much of a difference as he can while he has the opportunity to.

"Just try to play hard... try to affect the game as much as I can. I think I keep myself to a high standard... Just try to make the right play for my teammates," Antetokounmpo said. "If I can affect the game defensively, if I can affect the game offensively... I just know that when I'm out there I want to make my presence be felt by my teammates, by the opponents, and that's my mindset."

The Bucks may be have win back-to-back games, but they've still struggled up to this point in the season with a 14-19 record. Despite their shortcoming, Antetokounmpo has a lot of faith in his team and their ability to win, but he believes that a serious mindset change is needed team-wide before Milwaukee will be able to consistently win games. 

"We've got a really good team, we've just got to get out of our feelings. I think we get in our feelings too easy," Antetokounmpo said. "It starts with me... When things don't go well we can't whine or complain or demand for the ball or demand for the call or demand for things to go well. We haven't earned nothing."

In addition to his injury troubles, rumors of Antetokounmpo being traded away at the deadline have hung over the Bucks the entire season up to this point.

Nothing is certain in that regard and Antetokounmpo is obviously still with the Bucks until a trade happens, if any do at all. While Antetokounmpo wears the uniform that he's won two MVPs and one NBA Championship in, he'll do anything he can to put a winning product on the court. 

"As long as I'm here, as long as I'm healthy, I'm going to keep on helping the team, be vocal in the locker room, be vocal on the bus... and make everybody believe that we got to get out of this hole."