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[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat Preseason Preview: Bucks basketball is baaack!

After a long withdrawal period (aka summer break), we finally get our fix—the Milwaukee Bucks are set to take on the Miami Heat in preseason action tonight at the Kaseya Center. While this will be the Bucks’ first preseason game, the Heat lost to the Orlando Magic 118—126 on Saturday.

Where We’re At​

These are not your father’s Bucks. Five years removed, they certainly aren’t your NBA Championship Bucks. They aren’t even your pencil-in 50-win, guaranteed playoffs Bucks—or your “let’s just get everyone healthy and we have a shot” Bucks. But, as Eric B. & Rakim attested, it ain’t where you’re from, it’s where ya at.

With Kevin Porter Jr. recently named starting point guard, the Bucks will likely lean into the group and style that gelled down the stretch last season—Porter, Giannis, Gary Trent Jr., and AJ Green, with Myles Turner taking over for Bobby Portis—and posted an outrageous +56 net rating (+9.5 in the Playoffs). However, the team has remained mum about who will be the fifth starter. If it’s not Green, will the Kyle Kuzma small forward experiment resurface? Let’s hope not. Or, perhaps media day podium surprise Amir Coffey has done enough in training camp to warrant the spot? Either way, with a younger and more athletic roster than they’ve had in recent years, the Bucks should push the tempo this season, increasing their middle-of-the-pack pace and being more aggressive on both offence and defence.

The Miami Heat are also a much different team, having made a number of personnel changes. Most notably, Norman Powell was acquired as part of a three-team trade that sent Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson to the Utah Jazz and John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers. They also traded seven-year staple Duncan Robinson to the Detroit Pistons for Simone Fontecchio, moved Hayward Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets to get under the tax line, and signed free agent Precious Achiuwa. Through the draft, they used the 20th pick on Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis out of Illinois. Looking ahead, Miami will aim to improve upon a disappointing 2024-25 season, during which they finished 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 37-45 record. They then advanced through the Play-In Tournament but were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

Injury Report​

For the Bucks, Giannis (illness), Cole Anthony (undisclosed), Mark Sears (calf), and Jamaree Bouyea (rest/thigh) are all questionable.

For the Heat, Jakucionis (wrist), Terry Rozier (hamstring), Davion Mitchell (calf), and Pelle Larson (quadriceps) all remain questionable after missing their preseason opener, while Tyler Herro is out after undergoing offseason surgery on his left ankle.

Player To Watch​

A number of players have a case here, but as the biggest free agent signing of the offseason—and in Milwaukee since Brook Lopez signed in 2018—Myles Turner rightly deserves the spotlight. Fresh off an NBA Finals trip with the Indiana Pacers and with a new four-year $108.8m deal under his belt, Turner will finally don the Good Land green and show us what all the hype is about.

Coming in at second in our Ranking The Roster series, Turner is primed for a career year with the Bucks. Twice leading the league in blocks per game, Turner has made a name for himself on defence and will look to anchor a squad that absolutely must excel on that end of the court—think, top 10 in the league—to make noise at the pointy end of the season. It will be interesting to see how Doc Rivers and defensive coordinator Greg Buckner utilise Turner this season, given he theoretically mirrors Lopez’s skillset with additional versatility thanks to his greater athleticism and mobility—as he said during his Media Day press conference, he’s “a little more aggressive at the point of attack” and, at times, “able switch out and defend the perimeter as well.” This bodes well against the likely pick-and-roll duo of Bam Adebayo and long-time Bucks killer Powell, who will presumably take on more ball-handling responsibilities in the absence of Herro.

Offensively, Turner’s outlook is just as interesting. As arguably the second option on a team for just the second time in his career, Turner has a very real shot at besting his per-game career highs in field goal attempts (11.8) and points (18.0). But, as someone who’s been heavily dependent on others for buckets—90% of his made shots last season were assisted (5th percentile in the league)—this is no sure thing, especially as the Bucks don’t have a playmaker in the same caliber as Tyrese Haliburton. Last year, Turner feasted against the Heat, averaging 21.5 PPG (including 3.3 made threes per game), shooting 56% from the field and 50% from three. He also chipped in 5.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SGP, and 1.3 BPG. So, tonight’s matchup should provide at least a partial answer to that question.

How To Watch​

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 6:30 p.m. CDT.

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Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-game...-preview-start-time-tv-schedule-injury-report

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Top plays from Milwaukee’s 2021 title run

Hi, hello! Now that the Bucks are heading into yet another long season with the goal of winning it all (however realistic you may think that is), I found myself watching old YouTube videos of Milwaukee’s title run, reminiscing on the good ol’ times. Watching those videos reminded me of many highly influential plays or performances along the way to the title that often get forgotten. Therefore, I wanted to chronologically compile a grab bag of my favourite plays from the title run. Enjoy!

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Round 1, Game 1: Middleton’s anxiety-relieving game-winner​

In many ways, this may have been the most crucial shot of the entire run. Having just finished the previous season with the East’s top seed, making it to the second round, and getting blatantly embarrassed by the Heat in five games, the Bucks found themselves lined up against this team once more. The anxiety, at least for me, was palpable. The Miami brand, Jimmy, Heat Culture, it was all there, ready to consume me. And of course, in a game where Butler goes a putrid 4/22 from the field, he manages to drive around Giannis and hit the game-tying floater to send it to OT after the Bucks missed free throws that could have put the game away; my anxiety turned up another 10 notches. These freaking guys. This freaking team. I say this with respect, but the Heat were the ultimate cockroach of the NBA; they weren’t going to die unless the opponent killed them. Enter: Khris Middleton, stomping all over the Heat’s impenetrable exterior and breaking their will. The next three games were a walkover, but I can’t say they would have been if this shot hadn’t gone down:

Round 2, Game 3: Holiday’s spinning layup at the death​

In the rock fight of all rock fights, Jrue Holiday’s heads-up play to catch the Nets off-guard and drive to the hoop—as they may have expected him to call a timeout with less than 20 seconds on the clock—was massive. ”I think in my head, I was thinking maybe I should run some clock,” Holiday said. “But I saw Bruce Brown one-on-one, so I made a move. It was a good one and I ended up getting a layup.” After giving up a combined 240 points in Games 1 and 2, the Bucks got this game in the mud, where they’d have preferred it. And although Holiday was having another of his bad shooting games in the playoffs (4/14 on the night), his confidence to see an opportunity and take it was the reason the Bucks’ championship hopes remained alive:

Round 2, Game 7: Middleton and Holiday come up clutch​

For whatever reason, if I were to be asked about the play I recall most vividly from the ’21 playoffs, it’s not any of the common ones. Instead, the play I always think of is Khris Middleton’s shot to bring the deficit back to two points with 3:30 left of the fourth quarter in Game 7 vs. the Nets. Why? Well, James Harden (who was playing on one leg) banked in the dumbest three-pointer in all of history on the prior possession, and I thought that was a sign that it just wasn’t meant to be. At that point, it felt like the weight of the world was on the team, and they would eventually fold. And then, as the shot clock dwindled and Jrue drove into the lane, jumping up with seemingly no plan and releasing the ball to Middleton at the final second, he calmly erased the previous Harden three, and I breathed again:

There was also this step-back triple from Jrue that I wanted to include from that game, which he hit a few plays after the Middleton shot. Again, Jrue shot truly horrendously in this game at 5/23 overall and 2/9 from three, but he had no fear taking this shot, which I love. The best part, though, is the reactions. Jrue’s response is one of a steely resolve that he didn’t lose confidence in himself. The best reactions to me, though, come from Darvin Ham and Charles Lee, because I think they show the relationship Jrue had with the team and how well-liked he was:

And then, after KD hit the infamous toe-on-the-line two-pointer to send the game to OT, the Bucks went to a Giannis-Khris pick-and-roll for Middleton to get into his patented turnaround, which was one of three baskets scored by either team in the OT period, hilariously:

Round 3, Game 2: Antetokounmpo’s ridiculous Gervin-esque finger roll​

We can be honest that the true Eastern Conference Finals occurred against the Nets, with this series featuring fewer nail-biters. Regardless, Giannis pulling out this mind-bending layup in Game 2 was pure cinema:

Round 3, Game 3: Middleton downs the Hawks with 38 points​

In a game where the Bucks got down 13 early, it was Khris Middleton who made play after play in the second half to will the visitors to a 2-1 series lead:

Round 3, Game 5: Lopez’s legacy game​

After Giannis’ gruesome knee injury in Game 4 against Atlanta, the Bucks fanbase was in shambles, not knowing at that point that he would make a miraculous return just over a week later. Nevertheless, Brook Lopez put his Superman cape on and spurred the Bucks to a Game 5 victory, with 33 points on an uber-efficient 14/18 from the field:

Round 3, Game 6: Holiday and Middleton combine for 59 in the sealer​

Needing to win one more game without Giannis, it was Middleton and Holiday who stepped up, dropping a combined 59 points in enemy territory to stave off a Hawks team that continued to surge all game long:

NBA Finals, Game 3: Bucks save season in drubbing of Suns​

Onto the NBA Finals, where we forget about Games 1 and 2 for obvious reasons, and move directly to the Game 3 drubbing, with this teamwork on the fastbreak being my favourite highlight of the game:

NBA Finals, Game 4: Connaughton and Antetokounmpo come up huge​

PC had come up big on more than a few instances throughout that playoff run, but this moment was his biggest. The stones, man:

And then, from the same game, Giannis records the second-greatest block in NBA Finals history:

NBA Finals, Game 5: Knocked away and stolen by Holiday (a few times)​

Before we get to the big one, I just had to chuck this steal from Jrue on Booker on this list. There’s just something so badass about it:

And then, of course, the “valley-oop”:

NBA Finals, Game 6: The guys who started it, finish it​

This shot from Khris doesn’t seem to get talked about much, but I think it might be one of the most critical shots in franchise history. The Bucks were up 100-92 with 2:35 left in the fourth quarter, but were rapidly running out of gas, playing way too slow and coming up empty on the next two possessions. The Suns had whittled the lead down to four with one minute on the clock, and looked to have more in them. Milwaukee then went to a staple horns-like set with Holiday setting the first pick for Middleton, and Gianis handing it off. Middleton wasn’t really “open” at all but knew it had to be him to take the responsibility, rising over Booker to give the team the two-possession cushion it needed to win. Had Khris missed that shot and the Suns scored again, they’d have needed to get one stop and then could have won the game. That alternate reality was imminently possible; thank goodness it’s not actual reality!

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What do you think? Did I miss any plays? Make your thoughts known in the comment section!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-feat...nnis-khris-middleton-jrue-holiday-brook-lopez

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Giannis refutes rumors of family move to Greece

In a busy stretch of news for the Greek Freak, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo recently took to Instagram to refute rumors that his family moved to Greece. Per a Google Translation of his post:

Stop lying and endangering my family. Publicity is a result of my choices, not my children’s. Every child has the right to grow up without public pressure.

Every child needs space to grow, explore themselves and the world without feeling watched or judged. As a parent, it is my responsibility to protect their privacy so that they grow up with confidence, dignity and a sense of security.

Do not upload my kids on any platform again….. IT IS ENOUGH

Several familiar themes in this one. First, Giannis is fiercely protective of his children and their privacy. He’s known for adding filters to any pictures of them that he posts.

Second, bad actors are incentivized by a bad system to peddle rumors about Giannis’ future. In this specific instance, the source has a checkered history, the writing reads like AI slop, and the article suggests unrealistic access to sources, but it doesn’t matter; it gets cLiCkZ because it gaslights us into thinking that Giannis is on his way out of Milwaukee.

Don’t give rumors like these the time of day—Giannis has earned our trust.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-news...po-refutes-rumors-family-move-greece-children

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

The NBA: Something to rap about

On August 19th, I read that John Wall announced his retirement from the NBA. I hadn’t really thought about John Wall in a minute, but watching his announcement, a bunch of nostalgia came flooding back to me, especially after I reintroduced “Do the John Wall” back into my playlist rotation. If you went to the right high school gatherings or college parties around the 2010s, you might have heard the Troop 41 rap song “Do the John Wall.”

The catchy club-banger made sure to keep basketball in the forefront. This song was my introduction to John Wall. Back then I was a casual basketball fan and was not familiar with all the players in the league, especially if they weren’t on the Bucks. With this song in my head, I decided to check out some of John Wall’s high school highlights online, and was pretty impressed by what I saw.

With John Wall’s retirement, it’s worth reminding some younger NBA fans who he was. Wall was an influential player who made an impact in all levels of the game. In the start of his career, he revolutionized how players marketed themselves by having arguably the most iconic high school mixtapes of that era (which introduced me to how skilled of a player he already was at a young age). He then developed into an impressive and decorated collegiate athlete in his one and only year at the University of Kentucky in 2010: the Adolph Rupp Trophy winner, SEC Player of the Year, USBWA National Freshman of the Year, and consensus first-team All-American. Finally stepping into the league as a dynamic and strong two-way player, John Wall was drafted by the Washington Wizards in the 2010 draft class. His career carried on with some success and accolades—5x NBA All-Star, All-NBA Third Team, All-Defensive Second Team, All-Rookie First Team, and Slam Dunk Contest Champion—but ultimately ended with disappointment due to nagging injury issues that stayed with him for most of his career. His career was impressive, but few would consider him one of the greats. So why would he be considered so memorable for many NBA fans? It’s because John Wall is one of the few NBA stars immortalized in song.

For those that don’t know the absolute banger that is “Do the John Wall” by Troop 41, the rap song shouts out the Raleigh, NC native with a dance to go along with it. The song, like others of the time, helped to express fans’ love and support for a player they feel excelled and represented their region or team well. Examples of this that you might remember are “Derrick Rose” by Meek Mill or “Kobe Bryant” by Lil Wayne. Both songs are great examples of a player who meant a lot to their respective franchises and/or city. Carrying the discussion of these players away from simply the on-court context, these songs also help to demonstrate which players leave a lasting impact on the culture, in and around the NBA.

The type of players that get selected can vary rather dramatically. Players that mean a lot to the league present obvious candidates, like Michael Jordan (see Kendrick for that one), LeBron James (Anderson .Paak’s got a solid one), or the already referenced Kobe Bryant. These players have helped to shape the league that we love and are remembered still decades after their retirement from the league. Sometimes niche players can arise, like the 2020 Jack Harlow track “Tyler Herro,” and who can forget the ubiquitous 2018 hit “Mo Bamba” by Sheck Wes. These examples indicate artists having personal connections to these athletes or identifying with them in some way. Other times, they can have a little more depth to them, like the indie group Band of Horses’ song “Detlef Schrempf.” The band’s song uses the All-Star and 2x 6MOY winner as a metaphor for losing someone important to you, referencing how Supersonics fans felt when Schrempf was traded to the Trail Blazers. Bucks fans still grieving over the departure of Khris Middleton may connect with the song’s sentiment…

Today, rappers continue this trend, referencing players new and old. Freddie Gibbs is an example of this in his exceptional 2019 album Bandana, where he crafts a hit track with Anderson .Paak titled “Giannis.”

The track exemplifies how many rappers try to distill a player down to an ethos, and in this case, Freddie notes the tough stoicism that Giannis often represents on and off the court with this double entendre, “Real G’s move in silence like Giannis.” In doing so, the track demonstrates how rap artists have evolved in their songwriting. Although using one-off bars to reference the NBA and its players has been around since the birth of hip hop—see the bars on Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 hit “Rapper’s Delight” (“I got a color TV so I can see the Knicks play basketball”)—the style and approach to how they are entwined has changed just as much as the game itself. Double entendres, stretched rhyme schemes, and more descriptive wordplay have all been tools that rappers have revolutionized and honed to change the landscape of rap. Seeing these tools used has changed the way we listen to the music, no longer just listening for a name drop, but to the creative comparisons that develop the metaphorical context in the song while shaping the identity of the player to the broader public.

With that in mind, I’m not sure if all Bucks fans felt this way, but the “Giannis” track by Freddie Gibbs felt like a special moment in Giannis’ career. Is it an exaggeration to say this song felt like Giannis winning a second MVP award in 2019? Arguably one of the biggest lyrical rappers in the game centered an entire song around him, helping to create an identity for Giannis that the broader hip hop and NBA fandom can connect with. The song wasn’t just a reaction to his dominant performance on the court, but a sense of his arrival to the NBA fandom as a whole.

Rap as a genre has transformed dramatically, but you can still see a lot of influence from earlier eras in today’s music. Although the bars may be referencing different players over time, with different reasons behind it, artists are still feeling connections with NBA players and the NBA as a whole. We are awed by the physical feats they are able to perform, we feel a sense of pride when they bring acclaim to our team and our city, and we can admire how they carry themselves both on and off the court. John Wall may not be one of the greatest point guards of all time, but he connected with a fanbase in such a way that made his game a good deal more memorable than it would have otherwise been. All thanks to Troop 41 and millions of high school and college kids flexing along to the beat.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-feat...o-freddie-gibbs-anderson-paak-milwaukee-bucks

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Johnny Davis’ rights acquired by Wisconsin Herd

Wisconsin Badger legend Johnny Davis may be coming back to his home state for the upcoming season. Per a release from the Wisconsin Herd, the team traded the returning player rights to Diego Bernard and Jalen Lewis, a 2026 G League Player Draft first-round pick, and a 2026 G League International Draft pick to the Westchester Knicks, in exchange for Davis’ returning player rights.

Davis burst onto the draft scene in 2022 after winning Big Ten Player of the Year, leading Wisconsin to a share of the regular-season Big Ten championship and earning first-team All-American honors. The Wizards selected Davis with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, but things never clicked in Washington. He appeared in 112 games over three seasons, averaging just 3.5 points and 1.6 rebounds.

Ironically, Davis played his best NBA game against the Bucks on April 4, 2023. In a late regular-season matchup, Davis posted a career-high 20 points and added five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals. He also threw down a nasty dunk over Jrue Holiday, reminding fans what made him a superstar for Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, the performance against the Bucks was not a good representation of how his career has gone thus far, and he’s been mostly in the G League as of late. He played in eight games with the Westchester Knicks last season after the Wizards traded him to Memphis at the deadline, who waived him two weeks later. Including previous stints with the Capital City Go-Go—Washington’s affiliate—he has played 47 games in the G League, averaging 11.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

Davis joins Aleem Ford as the second former Badger acquired by the Herd this offseason. Ford was acquired from the Rip City Remix, along with a 2026 G League Player Draft first-round pick, in exchange for former Buck Liam Robbins in September. Robbins, along with our old friend MarJon Beauchamp, was waived by Portland yesterday.

It’s extremely unlikely that Davis ever plays a minute for the Bucks, but perhaps the La Crosse native could find his footing with the Herd, playing in the comfort of his home state. It is Davis’ last season eligible for a two-way contract, although that feels like a long shot anyway. Despite the Herd having his rights, he still has the option to go overseas and never suit up for the team. It would be fun for Wisconsin sports fans to see a Badger legend play in Oshkosh, but the main hope is that Davis can find the best situation for himself and remind everyone what made him special at Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-free...d-wisconsin-herd-nba-g-league-milwaukee-bucks

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons Preseason Preview: Back to basketball

The second game of preseason is here, with the Milwaukee Bucks taking on a divisional foe in the Detroit Pistons tonight at Fiserv. The Bucks are coming off a win over the Miami Heat on Monday night, as are the Pistons, who beat the Memphis Grizzlies.

Where We’re At​

There has been considerable chatter surrounding Giannis in recent days, but as far as the basketball is concerned, there was some encouraging stuff from their preseason game. I love the fact that the team is leaning more into playing multi-faceted players who are not specialists at one thing. AJ Green, KPJ, Ryan Rollins, and Cole Anthony are all players who can dribble, pass, and shoot; this allows the offence to keep flowing and not suddenly stop when one minor advantage is taken away. Unfortunately, with Giannis out again, we won’t know for sure whether Kyle Kuzma is destined for a starting or bench role this season.

On the other hand, the Pistons largely retained the same core, following a playoff berth last season for the first time in a hot minute. Cade Cunningham announced himself to the average NBA fan last year, while players like Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, and Jaden Ivey (who missed most of last year due to injury) will be looking to do the same this season. Of course, one notable exclusion from this team (for now, at least) is one-time Buck Malik Beasley, who is still under investigation by the NBA for gambling allegations. That said, Detroit got Beasley insurance with the signing of Duncan Robinson, who plugs into the movement shooter role seamlessly.

Injury Report​

Finding injury info in the preseason is not the easiest, since there are no official injury reports. For the Bucks, we know that Giannis will be out as he recovers from a bout with COVID. Cole Anthony had stitches after getting hit on the chin against the Heat so that he may be a watch for tonight.

For the Pistons, Jalen Duren has been day-to-day with hamstring tightness, so expect him to miss, while Colby Jones will be out with a bothersome ankle.

Player To Watch​

Kyle Kuzma is someone Bucks fans should continue to keep an eye on. How they utilise him this season will be pivotal to the team’s success. Kuzma didn’t shoot the ball well on Monday, but I thought he made some nice passes. How do they get more of the good stuff out of him and minimise the bad stuff?

How To Watch​

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CDT.

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Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-game...-preview-start-time-tv-schedule-injury-report

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Preseason Rapid Recap: Bucks 117, Pistons 111

After taking home the win in their preseason opener in Miami, the Milwaukee Bucks graced the home court of Fiserv Forum for the first time this season. In a big performance from AJ Green, who put up 22 points on a perfect 5/5 from the field (all three-pointers) and 7/7 from the free throw line, the Bucks took down the Detroit Pistons 117-111.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

Both teams kept it close throughout the entire first quarter. Kevin Porter Jr. opened the scoring for the Bucks with a shot that is so quintessential of who KPJ is: a circus corner three while contested and falling to the ground. Myles Turner was able to get his first points at Fiserv Forum for the first time as a non-visiting player, with a 17-footer. Cade Cunningham was a problem for the Bucks, going 4/6 from the field and scoring 11 points throughout the quarter. The Bucks’ three-point shooting and ball movement were a boost for them, going 7/10 (!) from downtown and having nine assists on 11 made shots. That combination allowed them to hold off a strong push from the Pistons, going into the second quarter up by two, 33-31.

The Pistons’ size and length gave the Bucks fits on offense throughout much of the second quarter. They blitzed the Bucks’ undersized backcourt of Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony, going on a 12-2 run in the first three minutes of the quarter to go up 43-35. That lead kept expanding for the Pistons, getting up to as many as 12 with 5:09 left in the second quarter. The Bucks were able to cut it under double digits thanks to the heroics of AJ Green, who scored seven straight, thanks to a big three with the shot clock running down, and then four straight made free throws. The Northern Iowa product kept up his hot shooting with another triple, bringing his total up to 10 points after not taking a shot in the first quarter. It wasn’t enough to break any closer, as the Pistons ended the first half with a tip-dunk from Bobi Klintman, giving them a 72-60 lead.

Milwaukee was able to get on track in the third, thanks to Green once again. He hit two big-time threes and three free throws as part of a 12-5 run to tie the game at 79-79. For the first time in a Bucks uniform, Rollins fouled out with 5:04 left in the third quarter and was replaced by Amir Coffey. As the quarter progressed, Doc Rivers began to sub in more of the end-of-bench guys, with Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr., and two-way Jamaree Bouyea. Even with that, the Bucks were able to hang in close with the Pistons. Harris even hit a three-pointer, but followed it up by giving up an and-one layup to Paul Reed to tie the game back up at 89-89. Neither team could buy a bucket to end the frame, so the two divisional rivals went into the fourth quarter tied at 89-89.

The backups kept a less-than-capacity crowd at Fiserv Forum entertained with a tightly contested game throughout the fourth quarter. Chris Livingston made his first appearance of the evening and was aggressive from the jump, drawing two fouls and hitting 3/4 from the free-throw line. The former Kentucky Wildcat’s efforts helped Milwaukee build a three-point cushion until the Pistons’ Tolu Smith hit a layup and Brice Williams hit a pair of free throws. Those four points gave Detroit a one-point lead with 6:19 left in regulation. Then the play of the night came from Thanasis Antetokounmpo, where he caught and threw down a one-handed lob from Mark Sears to give the Bucks a four-point edge late in the final period. After a few clutch layups from the undrafted Sears, the Bucks were able to hang on to win their second preseason game.

Looks like the Achilles is just fine for Thansis:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-10T02:41:28.486Z

Stat That Stood Out​

From executives to coaches to players, the Bucks have talked all offseason that they need to shoot more three-pointers after leading the league in percentage last season. So far through two preseason games, that’s held up. After taking 41 in Miami, they followed that up with an 18/36 performance against the Pistons, with AJ Green and Taurean Prince leading the way with five and three makes, respectively, from distance.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...ns-final-score-recap-aj-green-cade-cunningham

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

The story of MarJon Beauchamp is a tragedy

On Tuesday, the Portland Trail Blazers waived MarJon Beauchamp, who was on a non-guaranteed training camp deal. This move may be more than just a bump in the road for Beauchamp. It could mark the conclusion of his NBA career.

Beauchamp, of course, was Milwaukee’s 24th overall pick back in the 2022 NBA draft. It wasn’t viewed as a home-run choice in the moment, but there was reason for optimism. The athletic tools and natural aptitude, especially as a scorer, have been there for MarJon from the beginning. He was just always going to be more of a project pick than some of his peers. A more NBA-ready prospect, like Christian Braun or Jake LaRavia, could have been a better pick for the contending Bucks, but they were off the board. Jon Horst has proven to be a big-swing taker, and again, there were reasons to be optimistic about Beauchamp.

Unfortunately, things never panned out for Beauchamp in Milwaukee. The G League Ignite product was given ample playing time early on, even starting 11 games as a rookie, but he was never able to find a go-to skill or a comfortable role. He flashed impressive play, delivering some highlight scoring performances, but they rarely felt impactful. He fell behind in the rotation over time and adopted a “get mine” mentality in the short stints he would play in blowouts. To be clear, Beauchamp never looked like a bad player. Many players less talented than him have come and gone in this league. He just never assimilated himself into the life of a role player, and doing so was his key to sticking around.

Ultimately, the Beauchamp experiment in Milwaukee ended with him being flipped to the Clippers in exchange for Kevin Porter Jr. last February, which has looked like a major steal for the Bucks so far. MarJon played just three games for LA, and they waived him in less than a month. He latched on with the Knicks after that, inking a two-way deal that saw him log 2.8 MPG late in the 2024–25 regular season. Going there probably wasn’t the best decision for him— Tom Thibodeau infamously ignores bench guys. Still, he stayed with New York for the 2025 Summer League, where he showed out statistically, averaging 14.8 PPG. However, in those games, he was acting like a star, taking on heavy on-ball duties and hunting difficult shots. That’s just not what teams will want to see from him at this point, but he seemingly hasn’t realized it yet.

Now that he’s been waived, there are a couple potential pathways on the table for Beauchamp. He could join the Rip City Remix (Portland’s G League affiliate) and try to earn a two-way contract during the season: the 25-year-old has one more year of two-way eligibility. He’s played well in the G throughout his career, averaging 16.7 points in 33 games, but again, NBA teams won’t be looking for him to be an on-ball bucket-getter. The other main option for Beauchamp is to go overseas, which truly might be what’s best for him and his career. In another league, he could be the man, and he definitely has the skillset to achieve stardom across the water. Jordan Nwora, another former Buck with a love for volume scoring, went to Israel last year and became a featured piece of his new club. Beauchamp could follow in his footsteps.

An NBA comeback doesn’t have to be completely off the table for MarJon. Gaining experience elsewhere and learning more about what it means to be a pro could help him get back in the league in the future, a la Guerschon Yabuesle and Dante Exum. For now, though, it’s unlikely Beauchamp finds himself on another roster after being cut. His story is a bummer, but it’s still being written. The next chapter could be a happy one if it takes place in a new setting.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-feat...milwaukee-bucks-portland-trail-blazers-waived

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

How to make sure Brew Hoop shows up in your Google search

As many of you are likely aware, Google searches are … different these days.

The good news is Google is offering a solution for folks who like to get their news from specific sources. If you want to help Brew Hoop — while also streamlining all your Google searches — there is now a way.

Simply click on this link and add Brew Hoop as one of your “Source preferences.” That’s all there is to it!

Back in August, the tech giant debuted a feature called “Preferred Sources.” It’s a way for Google to prominently feature the results from websites you trust, like Brew Hoop:

“With the launch of Preferred Sources in the U.S. and India, you can select your favorite sources and stay up to date on the latest content from the sites you follow and subscribe to — whether that’s your favorite sports blog or a local news outlet. …

When you select your preferred sources, you’ll start to see more of their articles prominently displayed within Top Stories, when those sources have published fresh and relevant content for your search.“

As some of you might know, AI searches are hurting outlets around the world and in all spaces. We’ve worked hard at Brew Hoop to build a brand you can trust and rely on for Bucks coverage. Our goal is to serve you, the fans.

If you’re a fan of our work and want to get the best Bucks coverage possible, this is an excellent win-win to improve your Google searches while helping Brew Hoop out.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/general/52263/how-to-make-sure-brew-hoop-shows-up-in-your-google-search

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

New York the only other team Giannis desired joining this offseason

Well, Shams is back with another Giannis report, this one his most detailed yet about Giannis exploring options outside of Milwaukee this offseason. Per Charania, Bucks GM Jon Horst travelled to Greece in late July to meet with the two-time MVP and one of his agents, Giorgos Panou, for the sides’ “most seminal and candid meeting of the summer.”

The meeting was intended to be an open forum where Giannis could discuss any frustrations he had about the past and how he viewed the moves made to reorient the team. Horst laid out his vision for this upcoming season—presumably a far different one than he’d had in the past with Damian Lillard in the mix—and expressed his opinion that the roster he had assembled could compete for a championship in the Eastern Conference.

According to Shams, while Horst was confident, Antetokounmpo wasn’t all the way there. Giannis had doubts about whether the team that Horst had assembled was truly championship-calibre and, crucially, “wanted to explore whether there would be an alternative path forward for both the team and player.”

Alex Saratsis, Antetokounmpo’s US-based representative, had apparently fielded “rampant interest” since the NBA draft combine in May and “conducted serious due diligence on best possible outside fits should the star and his reps push to be traded from the Bucks.”

“Several teams were discussed internally, but one emerged as the only place Antetokounmpo wanted to play outside of Milwaukee: the New York Knicks.”

According to the report, Milwaukee engaged in conversations with New York about Giannis for a brief period in August, but the teams never gained traction on a deal.

“The Bucks insisted to the Knicks that they preferred not to move Antetokounmpo, but those in Milwaukee believe New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade.”

For what it’s worth, Charania reports that New York believes the Bucks were never serious about entertaining an Antetokounmpo trade. In the end, Giannis decided to return to Milwaukee, with the Bucks signing Thanasis to a one-year deal just recently.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-rumo...w-york-knicks-nba-giannis-shams-charania-espn

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Preseason Rapid Recap: Bucks 127, Bulls 121

In Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first appearance of the 2025 NBA preseason, the Milwaukee Bucks improved to 3-0 in the preseason, taking out the Chicago Bulls at United Center. Giannis scored 13 in a 21-minute debut, but it was Myles Turner who paced the visitors with 19 points on 5/8 shooting, all threes. Kyle Kuzma had 19 as well off Milwaukee’s bench, while Ayo Dosunmu poured in 22 for Chicago.

Game Recap​

NBA.com Box Score

This game saw the first appearance of a starting lineup many fans have clamored for: Giannis alongside AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., and Turner. While it took them a few possessions to find their footing on both ends, a pair of Trent triples highlighted an 11-0 run to put Milwaukee ahead 16-7 at the first timeout, just after the eight-minute mark. Giannis checked out for Bobby Portis about a minute later, but the Bucks extended that run to 14-0 over the ensuing two minutes, punctuated by a Turner block that induced a big gasp from the Windy City crowd. Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony took over in the backcourt as Doc Rivers dipped further into his bench, as Kuzma and Taurean Prince entered with three minutes left in the period. After Chicago closed within two, the B team staked Milwaukee to a 35-29 lead through one.

That group stuck for the opening minutes of the second, building their advantage to 10 before two unforced errors on consecutive possessions led directly to three Bulls points. Giannis re-entered for Portis as the nominal five, which opened up some cutting lanes a bit for Kuzma and Anthony. Up 47-43, the Bucks’ starting lineup began piecing back together and remained until half, but they were unable to regain much separation. Still, spacing out Turner to the corner with the trio of guards making up the rest of the weak-side arc proved effective at opening up seams in the Chicago defense for Giannis to exploit. It also afforded clean looks for the shooters, and Milwaukee finished the first half a cool 13/26 from deep and led 65-61.

For the first time this preseason, the Bucks’ starting five also started out of halftime (same for the Bulls) and kept firing away. But converting just two of their first seven three-point looks, it was a five-point game when Doc began pulling starters just past the third’s midpoint. Briefly down to three, Milwaukee reestablished a nine-point edge utilizing the same group that closed out the first. A Kuzma charge underneath with 1:38 to go was overturned, and some successful Bucks fast breaks in the next minute made it 102-93 game entering the last frame. Before the buzzer, though, some extracurriculars beneath the rim led to Prince and Dalen Terry resulted in four technicals between both squads and an ejection for Terry, who tried throwing a punch.

Rotation players stayed on the floor to begin the fourth as Chicago kept things close, before we got our first Jericho Sims and Amir Coffey sightings of the evening. Though the Bucks got it back to 10, the Bulls cut it back to four with 6:57 left and less than a minute later, they had their first lead since it was 7-5, thanks to a 13-4 run. Rollins marshalled a two-big lineup with Sims and Pete Nance back in front, though, before two-way guards Jamaree Bouyea and Mark Sears took over. That group managed to hold off the end of Chicago’s bench in somewhat of a feverish final minute.

Stat That Stood Out​

Another hope for fans entering this season was that the Bucks, who topped the league in three-point percentage last year, would up their volume this year after finishing middle-of-the-pack in 2024–25. Through two preseason games, they certainly looked like they’d do that, shooting 41 and 36. Tonight it was even more noticeable, as through the 10:19 mark of the fourth, when Doc went beyond the 10-man group who’d played to that point, Milwaukee put up a whopping 42 shots from behind the arc. Once the final horn sounded, their line read 20/48, compared with 45 two-point attempts. That’s a .516 three-point rate, nearly at the level of last year’s Celtics, who set a regular season record in that regard.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...s-antetokounmpo-debut-myles-turner-kyle-kuzma

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls Preseason Preview: The build continues

The Milwaukee Bucks will play their third preseason game tonight against the Chicago Bulls, as they build towards the start of the regular season. Giannis is playing, which means fans will finally get to see this revamped roster in action with GA as the head of the snake.

Where We’re At​

Somewhat surprisingly, the Bucks are 2-0 in preseason action after beating the Heat and Pistons over the past seven days. Like I mentioned in the intro, tonight will be the first chance to see Giannis play with all the new pieces GM Jon Horst brought in this offseason. Of course, Antetokounmpo playing should also definitively answer the question of what the starting lineup will be to open the season. But above all else, I want to see what the balance is on both ends with this team. The goal of waiving Damian Lillard and bringing in Myles Turner was that the defence would improve, but can the offence stay steady as well? Let’s see.

As for the Bulls, they are also 2-0 in the preseason after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers twice in a home-and-away series. Chicago is running it back with much of their same core after reaching an agreement with Josh Giddey on a four-year contract in the offseason. The team looks to be aiming once again at finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference, where they will inevitably lose to the Miami Heat in the first play-in game, as is tradition. Godspeed, Bulls.

Injury Report​

Kyle Kuzma was a late scratch for Milwaukee in their last game against the Pistons with a hip complaint; whether he plays tonight is a question. Other than that, the squad seems ready to go, including Giannis.

For the Bulls, Coby White (calf) is out, while Kevin Huerter (groin), Julian Phillips (knee), and Nikola Vucevic (rest) missed Chicago’s last game but are all classed as day-to-day.

Player To Watch​

Since Giannis is playing, Myles Turner is a player to keep an eye on. There aren’t many better theoretical fits with Giannis than Turner. One micro-problem the Bucks had with Brook Lopez was that he could catch the ball off penetration and be open, but his shot was too slow, allowing opponents to recover—not with Myles Turner. Turner can get that thing off quickly, and I’m excited to see how he enhances the Bucks in other ways as well. Can they play more aggressively on defence, with Myles picking up higher in pick-and-roll actions? How can the former Texas Longhorn impact as an off-ball player with flare screens and pindowns?

How To Watch​

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

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Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-game...-preview-start-time-tv-schedule-injury-report

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks signing Alex Antetokounmpo to two-way deal, cut Jamaree Bouyea

It’s even more of an Antetokounmpo family reunion in Milwaukee, as per Shams Charania of ESPN, the Bucks are signing Alex Antetokounmpo to a two-way contract, joining his older brothers Giannis and Thanasis. As Shams points out, this is the first time that three brothers are all on active contracts on the same team. Last season, Alex played with PAOK in the top Greek league, who were runners-up in the FIBA Europe Cup.

Alex has never set foot on an NBA floor since coming out of Greece in 2021. From 2021 to 2024, he played in the G League with the Raptors 905 and spent two years with the Wisconsin Herd. Across those three seasons, he played in a total of 65 games, averaging 18.7 minutes, 5.0 points, and 2.6 rebounds per game. With this being a two-way deal, it will be a bit of a homecoming for him with the Herd, plus reuniting with his brothers in Milwaukee.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, considering the Bucks’ three two-way slots are full with undrafted rookie Mark Sears, big man Pete Nance, and guard Jamaree Bouyea. As of now, we don’t know which of those three players will be cut, but I imagine Sears will stick around since the Bucks just picked him up this offseason after he went undrafted, and he made a big shot last night against the Bulls. That leaves Bouyea and Nance as the potential odd men out of the Bucks roster moving forward. Two-way contracts are non-guaranteed and teams cycle through them often; they also do not count towards the 15-man regular-season roster, which Milwaukee needs to set by next week.

UPDATE: Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Bouyea will be the one getting cut. The former USF Don appeared in only five games as a Buck last year (one start), averaging 3.4 PPG and 2.3 APG in 12.4 MPG. This is the final year the 26-year-old guard will be eligible for a two-way deal.

UPDATE 2: The team also announced that guard Cormac Ryan was waived. After participating in Summer League with the Bucks, Ryan signed an Exhibit 10 contract and appeared in the first two preseason games, averaging 5.0 PPG in 4.0 MPG. The Herd acquired his returning player rights last month, so if he decides to report to Oshkosh and spend 60 days there, he’ll get an $85.3k bonus.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-free...tokounmpo-two-way-contract-jamaree-bouyea-cut

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preseason Preview: The last of the pretend stuff

The Milwaukee Bucks look to complete an undefeated preseason with a win against reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at Fiserv. After beating the Chicago Bulls 127–121 on Sunday, the Bucks sit at 3–0, while the Thunder are currently 2–2 with a game to come against the Denver Nuggets.

Where We’re At​

Giannis trade noise aside, the Bucks have made positive steps as they prepare to embark on their 2025–26 campaign. Perhaps most noticeably, there’s been a shift in aggression across the board—players are diving for loose balls in preseason—thanks in large part to Jon Horst’s roster construction, which has prioritised youth and, oftentimes overlooked, internal competition. Regarding the latter, with just four days until the Bucks need to finalise their roster—anyone who’s not fully guaranteed needs to be waived by the 18th for them to not count against the cap—tonight’s matchup might just determine who’ll draw the short straws. With Thanasis Antetokounmpo ostensibly guaranteed a spot, the battle for the two remaining roster positions boils down to the quartet of Chris Livingston, Andre Jackson Jr., Tyler Smith, and Amir Coffey (even if Gary Harris makes for a better cut candidate). So, keep your eyes out for who gets the minutes tonight and, more importantly, does something with them.

After winning last season’s NBA championship, the Thunder have unsurprisingly doubled down on their core trio, signing MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-NBA third teamer Jalen Williams, and rising star Chet Holmgren to contract extensions that will ensure the team’s window for contention remains open for the foreseeable future. Make no mistake about it, this team is stacked with talent from top to bottom, but it’s its cohesion—how it coalesces—that makes it so good. New to the team are draft picks Thomas Sorber out of Georgetown (15th overall), who unfortunately tore his ACL during an offseason workout, and Brooks Barnhizer out of Northwestern (44th overall). This preseason, the Thunder have been selective with their lineups, favouring rest for the regulars and opportunities for the young guys.

Injury Report​

With Kyle Kuzma playing—and putting in work—against the Bulls, the Bucks appear fully healthy and ready to go (though Harris is listed as day-to-day for rest). Let’s hope this is a good omen for the regular season on both fronts!

For the Thunder, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll actually suit up given their extensive injury list. Notable names include Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Holmgren, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alex Caruso, all of whom are listed as day-to-day. Kenrich Williams (knee) and Nikola Topic (testicular surgery) are both out, as is the aforementioned Sorber (ACL).

Player To Watch​

After a surprise podium appearance during Media Day, Amir Coffey seemed to be on the verge of securing a roster spot—and even a key rotational role—for the season, especially considering the team’s lack of traditional depth at small forward. Yet, through three preseason games, he’s been merely okay at best, averaging just 3.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG, and 0.3 APG in 11.5 MPG, shooting 33% from the field and 43% from deep. Now, with AJ Green beefed-up and assaulting the rim, firming as the starting three, and oft-maligned Taurean Prince looking much better in a more fitting reserve role—not to mention Livingston and even Jackson playing well when given the chance—suddenly Coffey could find himself back on the outer. While it’s unlikely he’s cut—Doc Rivers has alluded to him spot-starting at times—it sure would be nice to see him show out at least a bit and remind us why Forbes’ Mat Issa dubbed him “the league’s best kept secret” during free agency. Shows us what you’ve got, Amir!

How To Watch​

Peacock and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CDT.

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Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-game...-preview-start-time-tv-schedule-injury-report

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Preseason Rapid Recap: Thunder 116, Bucks 112

The Oklahoma City Thunder edged out the Milwaukee Bucks 116-112 in an exciting preseason contest tonight, crushing Milwaukee’s chance at finishing undefeated in the tune-up games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 23 points in 19 minutes, while Branden Carlson added 17 points and some crucial second-half play. Cole Anthony dropped 21 for the Bucks, and Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

The Bucks opened the game with Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green, Giannis, and Bobby Portis. Myles Turner sat out with right calf soreness. The Thunder brought some of their stars out to play too, running with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Gilgeous-Alexander kicked off the scoring with a catch-and-shoot three on OKC’s first possession, drawing a foul but failing to convert the four-point play. Giannis responded with a smooth middie on Milwaukee’s first trip. The Thunder went six-for-six from the field in the first quarter before finally missing at the 9:10 mark, but inspired play from the Greek Freak kept them from building a big lead early. The reigning champs captured a double-digit lead at the 7:00 stamp, as their signature defensive intensity and connectedness started to ramp up. They forced nine Bucks turnovers in the opening six minutes, and 10 in the first quarter overall. When Milwaukee was actually able to get some shots up, they had a lot of success. Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. found the bottom of the net on a few tough buckets, cutting the Thunder’s lead to two with 3:25 remaining. A Kyle Kuzma triple put Milwaukee on top two minutes later. The Bucks led 37-33 through one.

Cole Anthony splashed a triple to get the second quarter going, and Ryan Rollins hit one of his own on the next possession. Milwaukee was off to an impressive start shot-making-wise, drilling seven of their first 11 three-point attempts. Milwaukee’s luck from beyond the arc was covering up their ugly turnover issues. Eventually, though, they started to come back to earth, and OKC recaptured the lead at the 7:00 mark of the second period with a Branden Carlson three. A Cason Wallace bomb 30 seconds later capped off a 16-0 run for the Thunder. The Bucks stayed cool as the visitors built a 68-58 lead inside of the three-minute mark. Isaiah Hartenstein joined in on the long-range action late, making the halftime score 73-65. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the half with 23 points on 8/10 shooting, while Porter paced the Bucks with 12.

The Thunder had their B-team in to start the second half, with Ousmane Dieng checking in for his first action and 2025 second-round pick Brooks Barnhizer getting the nod as well. Giannis, however, remained on the floor and made his presence felt. He threw down a fierce reverse slam two minutes in that cut OKC’s lead to three points. KPJ stayed hot and banged a contested corner trey to knot the score at 74 at the 8:30 mark. The game turned into a brick fight for a while after that, with both teams missing easy looks from all over the floor. The Bucks had scored just two points after Porter’s tying triple before Anthony knocked in two threes around the 4:00 tick. Then, Rollins, who has been forming some noticeable chemistry in the backcourt with Anthony, greened a three to give Milwaukee an 85-82 lead. At the end of the third, the Bucks held a 90-87 advantage.

Rollins stayed ablaze to start the fourth, scoring Milwaukee’s first three points by way of a free throw and a steal-and-slam. Anthony dished a slick lob to Jericho Sims for a slam at the 10-minute mark. The backup backcourt for the Bucks had taken over. OKC’s bench guys weren’t backing down, though. Carlson gave his team a three-point lead with another timely triple with 8:40 remaining; the two-way big man was really making an impact. The dynamic pair of Rollins and Anthony sat down halfway through the final frame, but Mark Sears picked up where they left off and delivered a steal/and-one combo to tie the game at 103. The two teams were trading blows in a contested battle. Dieng made some huge plays late for the Thunder, hitting a three to push their lead to five and then rejecting a Sears layup with 30 seconds on the clock. After Dieng’s block sent the ball out of bounds, Pete Nance made a three off an ATO play to make it a two-point game. A collected effort from Chris Youngblood at the charity stripe, followed by a miss from Nance, sealed the clutch win for the Thunder.

Stat That Stood Out​

Cole Anthony and Ryan Rollins combined for 34 points on the night. They’ve looked awesome sharing the court on both ends. If they can keep building on their chemistry, they could become an all-league bench tandem.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...giannis-antetokounmpo-shai-gilgeous-alexander

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks to broadcast eight games over the air

This afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that eight games this season will be broadcast over the air through three stations under the Weigel Broadcasting Company umbrella. In Milwaukee, CBS 58, WMLW, and Telemundo will broadcast these games, with CBS 58 airing one game, WMLW covering the other seven, and Telemundo simulcasting alongside WMLW. FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin will receive 71 other games, as well as the four preseason games this year. The full list of these games can be found in the thread below or on the Bucks website:

Bucks TV News: The Milwaukee Bucks will have eight games this season that will be broadcast over the air: Nov. 15 vs. LA Lakers (CBS 58)Nov. 29 vs. Brooklyn Nets*Dec. 5 vs. Philadelphia 76ers*Jan. 15 at San Antonio Spurs*Feb. 25 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers* March 7 vs. Utah Jazz**=WMLW

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-06T21:13:07.817Z

Viewers can expect to receive some high-quality games, with the first scheduled for November 15 against the Los Angeles Lakers (the lone game on CBS 58). Other high-profile matchups include the Philadelphia 76ers, another matchup between Giannis and Wemby’s San Antonio Spurs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Miami Heat. The one game that will be on both WMLW and Telemundo will be the final of the eight games on the list, an April 5 showdown with the Memphis Grizzlies.

This is the third year in a row that the Bucks have partnered with Weigel to bring games back to free over-the-air. In the second half of the 2023–24 season, they showed 10 games, but that number dropped to five for the 2024–25 season. Until January 2024, the Bucks hadn’t had games on local networks since the 2006–07 season, a full 17 years prior. Viewers can watch WMLW over-the-air on channels 49.1/58.3, Spectrum channels 7/8/608/982/1007, DIRECTV channel 49, Dish Network channel 49, and AT&T U-Verse channels 7/1007.

In previous seasons, other Weigel-owned stations in markets outside of Milwaukee have also aired these games. The list of those from last year is below—we reached out to Weigel to confirm whether or not these are current for this year, but haven’t gotten a response by publishing time:

• WISC 3 (Madison)
• WMEI 31 (Green Bay)
• WECX 14 (Eau Claire/La Crosse)
• WYOW 34 (Wausau)
• WQAD 8 (Davenport, IA, Rock Island/Moline, IL)

Additionally, the FanDuel Sports Wisconsin broadcast team is growing, as former Bucks and Marquette guard Wesley Matthews will join Lisa Byington for 35 games this season. Matthews is a Madison native and will take over as analyst when franchise legend Marques Johnson isn’t available. The rest of the crew—Melanie Ricks, Steve Novak, Stephen Watson, and Craig Coshun—will be back too.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-news/52257/milwaukee-bucks-broadcast-over-air-cbs-58-wmlw

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks waive Chris Livingston

With just under a week until the Bucks tip off their 2025–26 campaign in Milwaukee and their preseason concluded, the front office has begun the process of paring down their standard roster to 15 players (note that two-way players, like the recently-signed Alex Antetokounmpo, aren’t included in this). As Jack discussed earlier this morning, there are essentially four guys competing for two spots: Exhibit 9 signee Amir Coffey, 2023 second-round pick Andre Jackson Jr., 2024 second-rounder Tyler Smith, and 2023 60th overall pick Chris Livingston. It turns out that the first casualty is Livingston, who the Bucks waived this morning, as reported to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

This ends a somewhat bizarre summer for Livingston, who just turned 22 yesterday. His original contract with the Bucks included two guaranteed seasons, but a non-guaranteed 2025–26. Ahead of his early July guarantee date, Milwaukee waived him just two days into the NBA’s free agency period on July 2nd, rather than keeping him on that guarantee; this had a lot to do with creating the necessary cap room to sign Myles Turner. However, Livingston was still a part of the Bucks’ Summer League roster, and after an impressive showing in Vegas, Milwaukee signed him to a new contract on July 16th, fully guaranteed for one year at the veteran’s minimum. So it seemed like he was in their plans after all.

But a lackluster preseason may have made GM Jon Horst reconsider. He only appeared the Bucks’ first two preseason games versus Miami and Detroit; while he scored eight in the first (on 4/4 from the field) and nine in the second (all on 9/10 shooting at the line), it was perhaps foreboding that he didn’t sniff the floor this week. Of course, we don’t know how he looked in practice, but with the veteran Coffey also in camp and also in the mix at forward, he had competition. Coffey also hasn’t looked great this preseason, but he is a proven NBA commodity, unlike the third-year Kentucky alum.

In all likelihood, this will end Livingston’s Milwaukee tenure (though who knows—he’s still eligible for a two-way if they’d rather have him than Pete Nance) after two seasons, where he appeared in 42 games (one start). His final shooting line reads .408/.077/.750 in just 383 minutes of action with averages of 1.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG, and 0.2 APG. The 6’6” forward is probably in line for a two-way deal at this point, and fortunately for him, nine teams have two-way openings right now.

As for the Bucks, this reduces their standard roster to 16 guys, with 14 of them fully guaranteed. The battle for spot 15 is now down to three, and of Smith, Jackson, and Coffey, only Smith is fully guaranteed at $2.0m. Jackson, who turns 24 next month, is partially guaranteed for $800k, and his salary doesn’t reach its full guarantee of $2.2m until opening night. The 28-year-old Coffey is non-guaranteed right now, but if he wins the spot over Ajax and Smith, his Exhibit 9 contract would become a one-year, vet minimum deal at $2.3m next week.

Unless Livingston is claimed off waivers, the Bucks will carry his $2.3m salary on their books for the rest of the year. That’s not a problem when it comes to the tax or either apron, as even when Livingston’s money is added to the $20.9m in stretched salary to account for Damian Lillard and Vasilije Micić, they’re currently about $16.1m beneath the $187.9m tax threshold. If they were to waive Ajax similarly to what they did today with Livingston and fill the spot with a minimum deal for Coffey, they’d still have $15.2m in room.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-free...on-amir-coffey-andre-jackson-jr-roster-crunch

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks sign Johnny Davis, Jeremiah Tilmon to Exhibit 10 deals

Fa la la la la, la la La Crosse. Tis the season for Exhibit 10 deals, and La Cross native and Wisconsin Badgers standout Johnny Davis is the next one to come across the wire. You can tell because, while writing this piece, Jeremiah Tilmon was signed to the same deal. I remember Davis’ rights being acquired by the Herd like it was last week. This non-guaranteed deal is another step towards him suiting up in Oshkosh.

Finley Kuehl (Kühl) spilled good ink mere hours ago explaining Exhibit 10 deals for the uninitiated. Davis and Tilmon will likely get waived and then get a cool $85K if they stay in Oshkosh for (shudder) 60 days. They join John Butler Jr., Stephen Thompson Jr. (both already waived per Keith Smith), Cormac Ryan, Lindell Wigginton, Kira Lewis Jr., and Aleem Ford at various points on this path.

Drew Gentile unpacked the lore of Johnny Davis when his rights were acquired, including a decorated college career in Madison, a less decorated NBA and G League career thus far, and an absolute flame-throwing performance against (of course) the Bucks. This move suggests that a possible two-way contract was indeed a long-shot for Davis, whose post-college career has been like La Crosse’s World’s Largest Six Pack: unimpressive. He could still yet be a Shanghai Shark, but this move brings him closer to Lake Winnebago.

Recently suiting up with Shenzhen, Tilmon could offer him some advice. Over the last few years, he has shuffled through the G League, appeared in Summer League twice with the Orlando Magic, and made an all-conference team his senior year at Mizzou.

Welcome both of them, to Milwaukee Oshkosh wherever they end up.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-free...ny-davis-jeremiah-tilmon-exhibit-10-deal-herd

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

What can we expect from the Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony backcourt?

After four tune-up games, we sit just five days away from opening night for the Milwaukee Bucks, when they host the Washington Wizards. Despite the preseason games’ results not meaning much (3-1 record), there’s still plenty to dissect as we set our expectations of this new look Bucks team. Whether it’s Doc Rivers talking about multiple actions on sets for Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green, Milwaukee rolling with a starting lineup not including Kyle Kuzma next to Giannis at the three, or what Giannis and Myles Turner look like playing next to each other. Yet a new combination of players, particularly the bench backcourt of Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony, has caught the eye of not only Bucks fans but also the media and even the coaches.

While both of them are point guards, head coach Doc Rivers has talked all preseason long about how he would use them together and how good a fit he thinks it is. I can’t say I disagree with Rivers much on this one, as the “T-Shirt Twins” (shoutout to friend of the site Camile Davis for coming up with that one) do have very complementary skill sets on both ends of the floor. So, now that we have seen this lineup in all four preseason games, what can we expect from them once things get started on the 22nd? We’ll take a look at what the pair of point guards has been able to show us in the preseason, and how that might translate to when the games finally start to count.

Playing off each other well on offense​

In taking a look back at three of the four preseason games (no film was available for the preseason opener against Miami), Anthony and Rollins have such clearly defined roles when they’re on the floor that they can play off of each other with ease. Doc talked about how he expects Anthony to be more of a floor general and run the offense, which is certainly something he did during the preseason.

In preseason, Anthony finished second on the team in assists per game with 4.0, just behind starter Kevin Porter Jr., who averaged 4.7. You can also see the poise that Anthony plays with, as shown by the play below. After dribbling through traffic, he keeps his eyes open and finds AJ Green open on the wing for one of his five three-pointers last Thursday:

This was just masterful work by Anthony to keep his balance and find the open AJ Green for one of his 5 threes he made against the Pistons last week. Doc talked all offseason about how Anthony can run the offense off the bench, and here he’s doing a great job of making something out of nothing:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.774Z

Going back to how well Rollins and Anthony play off of each other: after the Pistons made a basket and with Rollins inbounding, he finds a streaking Anthony, who races down the court, then fires one of his patented long skip passes to Amir Coffey for an open corner three-point shot. Coffey nails it and helps the Bucks get back in front of Detroit late in the first quarter:

This shows how much chemistry the two have, as Rollins is in-bounding the ball. Rollins recognizes the great cut that Anthony makes to get open, leading to a mini-fastbreak where Anthony throws a long pass. Coffey nails the three, and it helped the Bucks regain the lead late in the 1st:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.775Z

In this set, Jericho Sims is heading to the far wing to set up a hand-off with Amir Coffey, with Anthony setting a screen for Coffey to curl around on. When the Pistons defender denies Coffey the ball, Sims immediately flips the ball to Anthony into a pick-and-roll, where Anthony attacks the middle of the floor. With Sims cutting to the paint towards the baseline, Rollins’ defender floats to the paint to help cover Anthony’s drive and Sims’ roll. By doing that, it leaves Rollins wide open for a corner three. While the shot doesn’t go in here, you take that shot 10 times out of 10 and twice on Sunday. Finding an open three for a player who shot 40.8% from that distance is the best you can ask for:

Doc talked with Tim Legler about how he wants a lot of his plays to have multiple actions, and this is a great showcase of that. Anthony gets the ball after Sims can't get it to Coffey on the hand-off. The roll from Sims draws the help side defense, leading to a wide open Rollins 3:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.776Z

This goes back to what Doc talked about after the Bucks’ 117-111 win over the Detroit Pistons. He raved about the two guards’ ability to play with each other, and allow Anthony to play as more of a table setter than a scorer, and Rollins to create plays and make shots:

“No, I think it can be really good at the one and two. I think Cole will help Ryan, cause Cole can run the team and Ryan can get downhill and make plays. I actually liked the lineup, I just thought they lost their composure a little today.”

This is just another example here, with Rollins and Anthony out there with Turner, Bobby Portis, and Trent, where Rollins’ defender heads to the middle as help with Turner rolling to the basket. With Tre Jones, Matas Buzelis, and Patrick Williams all ball watching, Anthony spots Rollins open in the corner for a three, which Rollins drains this go around:

This is a similar type of play, where Anthony drives into the paint off a screen from a big (this time its Myles Turner), where it draws two defenders to the paint. Rollins gets this look again, but buries it this go around. Expect this more often from the 40% three point shooter:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.777Z

This next one was just good play recognition by both Rollins and Cole. After getting the screen from Portits, Anthony heads to the middle of the floor again and sees Rollins and Kuzma in a similar area. In an effort to get Kuz the ball, who is the more open of the two players, Rollins heads towards the paint to set a screen on Williams. That causes Jones to switch out onto Kuz, allowing him to nail the jumper over the much shorter defender. I’m not sure if the play called for Rollins to do that, but if it didn’t, it’s an incredible heads-up play by Rollins to open up another teammate for a wide-open jumper:

Great court awareness from Rollins and Anthony together. Anthony again has the ball here in pick and roll with a big. Kuzma moves out of the dunkers spot to the corner, and with Rollins recognizing that, he sets a screen on Patrick Williams, forcing Tre Jones to contest. The result? Cash money:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.778Z

This is a nice transition play from the pair, reminding me of times when Rollins played with Damian Lillard last season. After a miss from Chicago, Anthony has the ball and is going up the court pretty calmly. Midway through, he finds Rollins on the far side streaking down the floor. Sims does an excellent job of setting the screen ahead of time for Rollins, which allows him to get to the basket with ease and drain the left-handed layup to give the Bucks a 10-point lead. It shows a strong chemistry between the two guards to trust in each other to make that type of play happen:

This play reminded me of times when Rollins played with Damian Lillard. The lead ball handler (this time Anthony), finds Rollins at mid-court, and Rollins uses his speed and length to get a layup in transition. Doc also talked about this pairing allowing Rollins to play down hill more:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.779Z

Causing havoc on defense​

Between Rollins’ athleticism and size and the quick feet of Anthony, the Bucks’ bench backcourt is shaping up to be causing opposing offenses headaches. The T-Shirt Twins will pick up ball handlers full court at times, whether it’s off a make or a miss. Outside of that, they do a great job of turning defense into offense, as on this play here, Anthony easily steals a bad pass from Duncan Robinson of the Pistons. The former UNC Tar Heel quickly turns it the other way and scores a layup:

Moving to the defensive side of the ball, this was a terrible pass by Duncan Robinson, but a great move by Anthony. He goes for a swim move when the pass is over thrown, gets the ball, and drives in for the layup. This play is even possible because of Rollins denial of the first option:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.780Z

This is just simply another example of how disruptive this pairing can be at times. After Kuzma missed a floater over two defenders, Rollins does a great job of cutting off Williams’ run in transition and staying strong. That causes Williams’ mistake to lose the ball, rolling into the arm of Rollins before getting the ball back up the other way:

After a rough miss from a Kuzma floater, Rollins uses his size to wall off Williams here and force the ball three. While the chance is spoiled by Kuzma charging into Collins, it's an extra possession generated by the havoc these two bring on the defensive end:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.781Z

Anthony spoke very highly of this new pairing before the Bucks game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night:

“Ryan got a lot of game, it’s been a pleasure to share the floor with my good brother. He can shoot the ball, he can pass, I mean, there’s not really anything he can’t do on the floor. He guards at a high level, so for me, it’s fun to get out there. He can handle the rock, I can handle the rock, we both can initiate the offense, and we’ve just been causing havoc on the offensive and defensive end.”

Here, after a Bucks make, both guards are pressuring OKC’s two guards to get them uncomfortable right out of the chute. With Rollins’ long arms, he puts Cason Wallace through hell, can poke the ball away, and gets an easy layup near the start of the fourth quarter:

If you're a defensive sicko like me, you'll love the mentality from Rollins and Anthony here. Both of them press up on the OKC ball handlers after a Bucks make. Rollins then uses his long arms to poke the ball away from Casen Wallace, leading to a wide open layup against the defending champs:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.782Z

What might even be more crucial is the dynamic play between Rollins and Anthony; it’s about the impact it’s having on the team as a whole. In this next play during clutch time, you have undrafted rookie Mark Sears pressuring the ball off a make from Coffey with the Bucks trailing by three. Sears snatches the ball away, hits the layup, and the foul to tie the game at 103-103. It’s such an important part that not only do they play well together, but it’s also impacting the rest of the team. Having young guys like that bought in and willing to do the work to come up with a big play, it doesn’t happen overnight, that’s for sure:

What makes the Rollins and Anthony duo really special is how it's trickling down to the rest of the team. Undrafted free agent Mark Sears presses up after a Bucks make to force the steal and get an And-1 to tie the game. When you get young guys learning from them, that changes everything:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T14:30:23.783Z

Final takeaways​

When you take a look at what this pairing has to offer the Bucks on both ends of the floor, it’s hard not to get excited about it. Rollins and Anthony bring similar yet varied skill sets to the table. Rollins is more of the scorer, while Anthony is the distributor. These abilities complement each other so well that they create challenges for opponents on the defensive side of the ball. Despite the size difference, their ability to switch onto either guard and do it well will make life difficult for even the best ball handlers. While on offense, allowing Anthony to run things most of the time will get opportunities for both of them to score and make plays.

There are a lot of positives to look at when it comes to the T-Shirt Twins, and they will have their moments for sure. But I wouldn’t be doing my job if I weren’t looking at any potential issues it would cause for the Bucks. We saw last Thursday against the Pistons—and Doc acknowledged that these guys lost a bit of their composure—a second-quarter scoring run allowed them to get back into the game. They are still young guards who will be relied upon for big minutes for a team trying its best to keep Giannis in town. They will make mistakes, and neither of them being a true, big-time play finisher could cause some stagnation on the offensive side, especially when Giannis sits with that lineup out there.

There are warts, but this pairing has a chance to be really special, and if something happens to one of those two guys, they have Sears on a two-way deal ready to help fill in as the third point guard. Rollins and Anthony are part of a larger effort to get the Bucks back to their championship identity, where they surrounded Giannis with three-point shooting and defense. It’s a tone-setting duo, and we’ll see how that defensive edge will make its way through the rest of the team. If this works, which I think it does, the Bucks could be a pretty dangerous team once the season turns to April and May.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/52581/milwaukee-bucks-ryan-rollins-cole-anthony-back-court

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks and AJ Green reach 4-year, $45m extension

After making a few moves earlier today, including waiving third-year forward Chris Livingston, the Bucks wrapped up a storyline that lurked in the background for over three months by signing fourth-year guard AJ Green to a fully guaranteed four-year, $45m extension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He became eligible for an extension this past July 6th and would have remained so until the end of next June, but GM Jon Horst mentioned at Media Day that the front office placed a priority on this extension.

Green is in the final season of a three-year, $6.3m contract signed in July 2023, after he’d completed his rookie season as a two-way player. The 26-year-old sharpshooter will still be on the books for just $2.3m for 2025–26. This deal will kick in for 2026–27 and keep him under contract through the summer of 2030. Since there are no non-guaranteed years or options, that makes Green the Buck with the longest contract on the team’s ledgers—Myles Turner is the second longest, with a contract through summer 2029. He’s also one of just five current players (including Giannis, Turner, Bobby Portis, and Ryan Rollins) with guaranteed money past summer 2027. Assuming Green gets the maximum 8% year-over-year annual raises allowable on a veteran extension, here’s the approximate breakdown of his salary each season, after he makes his $2.3m this year:

• 2026–27: $10.0m
• 2027–28: $10.8m
• 2028–29: $11.7m
• 2029–30: $12.4m

Two good points of comparison here are similar three-point gunners: former Buck Sam Merrill and Wisconsin native Sam Hauser. Merrill received a four-year, $38m new deal back in July from the Cavs, but he’s nearly three-and-a-half years older than Green. Hauser also received a four-year, $45m contract, which is probably identical to Green’s, and he’ll turn 28 just after Christmas (Green turned 26 about two-and-a-half weeks ago). Since Green’s current salary is way under the league’s estimated average salary of $13.9m, the largest extension he was eligible for was four years and $87m, with a $19.4m starting salary.

It was a bit interesting that the deal didn’t get done sooner, and because it took three-plus months to hammer it out, there was some offseason trade speculation about Green, including from me (not that I was advocating for it). Even if they had gotten it done earlier, he’d have been trade eligible during the season, but if they didn’t, an acquiring team would still have been able to extend him at any point, despite acquiring him at his lower current salary. Since this deal was completed after August 5th, he’ll be ineligible to be traded this upcoming season. A player who signs a veteran extension covering four years, including any remaining years on his current deal, can’t be traded for six months. The 2026 trade deadline is on February 5th, so we can safely assume he’ll be a Buck through the end of their current campaign.

Green looks like he’s primed to have a big year, and if the preseason is any indication, he may be in line for a starting gig on opening night next week. The Northern Iowa alum is coming off somewhat of a breakout year, averaging 7.4 PPG and 2.4 RPG on .429/.427/.860 shooting to go with above-average (and still developing) defense. That three-point figure, on exactly five attempts per game, ranked 12th best among qualified players leaguewide, 0.3% behind Kevin Durant (his teammate Taurean Prince was third). AJG also appeared in a career-high 73 contests and seven starts, including Game 5 of Milwaukee’s first-round series with Indiana, when he played 46 minutes, also a career high. Per Cleaning The Glass, his +7.3 net rating was second-best on the team outside of Giannis, with most of that coming on defense: while on the floor, the Bucks allowed 6.6 fewer points per 100 possessions compared to when he was off, the team’s best figure.

Congrats to Green and to the Bucks: after Ryan Rollins’ new contract this offseason, he becomes the second player to receive a multi-year extension after initially signing a two-way contract. Though you might not have realized it due to a lack of success developing recent draft picks (essentially since Donte DiVincenzo), Milwaukee’s player development system is actually pretty solid, especially when it comes to players who began their careers elsewhere in the league. That may be good news for returning two-way player Pete Nance, who’s on his third NBA stop.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-free...xtension-four-years-45-million-trade-eligible