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[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking the Roster: Gary Harris spots up at 12th

If you forgot Gary Harris is on the Bucks now, you’re not alone. Between the Dame waiving, Myles Turner signing, and even the Cole Anthony pickup, all of Milwaukee’s roster movement that has come after Harris joined the team has made it easy for the shooting guard to fly under the radar. So, here’s your reminder that Gary Harris is a Milwaukee Buck. Now, let’s discuss what he can bring to the table.

Harris, a 6’4”, 210 lb. 31-year-old, is entering his 12th season for what will be his third NBA team. He’s had some really solid years as a pro, with six double-digit scoring average campaigns under his belt. Most of those came in his younger days, though, and in 2024–25 for Orlando, he posted a paltry 3.0 PPG in 14.8 MPG. Once an electric three-and-D contributor, Harris is now just a respectable depth piece.

The veteran’s best trait is his perimeter defense. While past his prime, he can still pull his weight effectively in a team setting. Harris battles through screens, contests shots, and makes timely rotations. Per BBall Index, he ranked in the 64th percentile as a perimeter defender in isolation last season while being an A+ screen navigator and generating 1.36 steals per 75 possessions (63rd percentile). For a Bucks team that isn’t the most fortified at the point-of-attack defensively, Harris will be a nice situational rotation piece to have in games against players like Jalen Brunson and Trae Young.

Offensively, Harris isn’t much more than a spot-up shooter, and he’s a low-volume streaky one (not a good combo) at that. He shot 35.6% from deep last season while taking over 75% of his shots from that range. In five years with Orlando overall, however, he hit 38.8% of his treys. An uptick in efficiency after a down year in 2024–25 is very much in the cards for Harris as he leaves a clunky offense for a much more spaced-out one.

At this point in his career, Harris isn’t a guy you should have high expectations for. He likely won’t be much more than an 11th man for the Bucks this year, with Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Cole Anthony, Ryan Rollins, and AJ Green all virtual locks to be ahead of him in the rotation. However, G-Money is still a quality professional who can contribute to this team in a small role.

What do you think? Would you pencil Harris in for some spot rotation minutes, or would you rather give his roster spot to someone else? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote on the next spot in the rankings! Polls close at 9 a.m. (Central) tomorrow!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/50767/milwaukee-bucks-ranking-roster-gary-harris

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Breaking down the Bucks’ 2025–26 schedule

A month ago, the Bucks unveiled their 2025–26 schedule, and Jackson gave us a 30,000 foot view back then as a quick reaction. But each year when the schedule comes out, I like to do a bit of a deeper dive. Since I was off camping when this schedule dropped, you’ll have to excuse my tardiness. Anywho, you can see the entire schedule here, but like last year, let’s go over some key stretches throughout the season, plus some other minutae. Here’s a loose chronological outline of the year:

• For the first time in four years, the regular season will not open against the Philadelphia 76ers. As you may know, the Bucks start the regular season at Fiserv Forum welcoming back Khris Middleton and the Wizards on October 22nd.
• Soon after, they have an early three-game set of high profile opponents from games three through five: at Cleveland, then at home playing the Knicks and Warriors.
• Their first back-to-back is on November 3rd and 4th in Indiana—Myles Turner’s return—and Toronto the following evening. A home-road B2B on November 9th and 10th plus a home-home B2B later that week on November 14th and 15th equates to a stretch where the Bucks will play six games in eight days.
• From November 22–29, they’ll have five in seven, then six in eight again from November 28th to December 6th. After that comes NBA Cup play, where the schedule is TBD.
• On December 21st, the Bucks embark on a five-game road trip, though the furthest they’ll travel is Charlotte. All of their prior road trips will be no more than two games, and all in Central or Eastern time. They likely can come back to Milwaukee for at least a night or two during that slate, particularly with a jaunt to the United Center among them.
• Another five-in-seven slate takes us from December 26th to January 2nd. Next up is their first voyage to the West Coast, featuring the Kings, Warriors, Lakers, and Nuggets. They return home briefly to face Minnesota, then head to San Antonio and Atlanta. Upon returning home on January 21st, they’ll have OKC, Denver, and Dallas awaiting them after spending nearly all of January on the road. Not an easy itinerary!
• Thankfully, there are no back-to-backs in January. They’ll also have two days off twice, and three days off in between the aforementioned Spurs and Hawks games.
• February begins with their first Celitcs matchup, their only trip to Beantown. They saw Boston three times in their first 22 games last year, and this year they won’t see them until game 48.
• After a trio of home games in early February that are part of a five-in-seven, they’ll spend some time in Orlando, playing the Magic twice in three days (interesting). The second of those two is the front end of a B2B that will involve them flying to Oklahoma City for the last game before the All-Star break.
• Milwaukee returns from the break in New Orleans followed by a run of seven Eastern Conference rivals the ensuing two weeks into March.These games are a little packed in, with two five-in-seven periods over their first two weeks back home. All but one of these games are at Fiserv at least, and that lone away date is in Chicago.
• In fact, the Bucks will be at home for all but two games between February 22nd and March 12th. They’ll also do six in eight from March 7–15.
• As you might expect, the final month of the season is slightly more travel-heavy, with nine of their final 16 regular season games away from Milwaukee.
• That period includes their second Western road trip through Utah, Phoenix, Los Angeles (Clippers this time), and Portland. They return home for a B2B with the Spurs and Clippers for the second time in a week to close March.
• April comes in like a lion in Houston, but it easies (lambs?) up after with home dates against Boston and Memphis. There are seven games in just 12 days, though.
• Milwaukee closes their regular season first on the road against Brooklyn and Detroit in a road-road B2B, then head back home quickly to face the Nets for the second time that week before game 82 in Philly.

Big Eastern Conference matchups​

Here are the season series against some of the projected top contenders in the East:

• Cavaliers: in Cleveland on October 26th and November 17th; in Milwaukee on February 25th and March 17th
• Knicks: in New York on November 28th; in Milwaukee on October 28th and February 27th
• Magic: in Orlando on February 9th and 11th; in Milwaukee on March 8th
• Hawks: in Atlanta on January 19 and March 14th; in Milwaukee on March 4th
• Pistons: in Detroit on December 6 and April 8th; in Milwaukee on November 22nd and December 3rd

Due to the injuries to Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, the Pacers and Celtics matchups are probably not as critical as the ones above, but those two are big rivals of the Bucks in spirit, especially with Myles Turner coming to Milwaukee. The Bucks head to Indianapolis on November 3rd and December 23rd, then host the Pacers on February 4th and March 15th. As for the Celtics, the Bucks duel them at TD Garden on February 1st, but will have the Fiserv Forum crowd behind them for the other two contests on March 2nd and April 3rdd.

Teams always face their divisional rivals four times (twice at home and twice on the road), then play the other 10 teams in the conference either three or four times. As usual, I’ll note the intraconference opponents they play four times: this year it’s Charlotte, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Washington. Ergo, they play Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Miami, New York, and Orlando three times each. Of course, they may get one of those five another time due to the NBA Cup, whether it’s part of the tournament or the two normal regular-season games for teams that don’t make the eight-team field (if that comes to pass, hope it’s Brooklyn). In any case, it’s nice to have likely two tankers among the four-timer group, plus two others who disappointed last year and may again in 2025–26.

Big Western Conference matchups​

Based on star power and record from last year, here are some select matchups with teams from out west:

• Thunder: January 21st home, February 12th away (also preseason on Tuesday, October 14th at home)
• Rockets: November 9th home, April 1st away
• Lakers: November 15th home, January 9th away
• Nuggets: January 13th away, January 23rd home
• Clippers: March 23rd, March 29th home
• Timberwolves: December 21st away, January 13th home
• Warriors: November 1st home, January 7th away
• Mavericks: November 10th away, January 25th home
• Spurs: January 15th away, March 28th home

That means you can see Steph Curry in Milwaukee on November 1st, Kevin Durant on November 9th, Luka Doncic and LeBron on November 15th, 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the reigning champs on January 21st, Nikola Jokic on January 23rd, and Victor Wembanyama on March 28th. Additionally, the Blazers visit Milwaukee on November 24th, and although Damian Lillard will obviously not be playing, he may still make the trip.

Difficult stretches​

You’ll recall the Bucks’ 2-8 start last year, which I highlighted before the season as a potentially hairy period in the schedule. The first ten games this year don’t look nearly as bad, even with two back-to-backs. Some of the other rough times in 2025 were at the end of March as I anticipated, but of the other areas that worried me, the Bucks actually did fine, going at least .500. I didn’t see what ended up as a four-game losing streak from January into February as one of those areas, though. But how about this year? These spots look like trouble:

• December 21–26: at Wolves, at Pacers, at Grizzlies, at Bulls (B2B)
• January 7–23: at Warriors, at Lakers, at Nuggets, Wolves, at Spurs, at Hawks, Thunder, Nuggets
• February 9–12: at Magic, at Magic, at Thunder (B2B)
• March 28–April 3: Spurs, Clippers, at Rockets, Celtics

Yes, January looks tricky, but all told, that’s honestly much less intimidating than last year. Part of that’s because the East is so wide open, but also because Milwaukee benefits from having several of their tough opponents followed up by teams like Washington, Brooklyn, and Utah. Interestingly, however, they will face the Cavs and Knicks in consecutive games twice. Those couplets may be revealing.

The NBA Cup (aka the In-Season Tournament)​

Jackson ran down the Bucks’ Group C draw last month as they look to defend their NBA Cup title. The knockout stages are from December 9–16 this year, and if they make it in, the quarterfinals would be in home markets on December 9th or 10th. Then things move to Vegas for the semifinals on December 13th and the final on December 16th. Should the Bucks make the knockout round but lose their quarterfinal matchup, they’d add a regular-season game on December 11th or 12th. If they don’t make it at all, they’ll instead be scheduled for two regular-season games: one on December 12th and another on either the 15th or 16th.

The NBA tries to schedule those regular-season games between conference rivals that play each other only three times during the regular season. But the way the numbers shake out, there will be two interconference games among those, so the Bucks could play a Western team thrice. Or they could play an Eastern opponent five times in the regular season: any of the four other teams in their division, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington, or Charlotte. I wouldn’t mind an extra game against one of the latter two.

More schedule factoids​

• For the second year running, no Christmas Day game for the Bucks. They will, however, play in Atlanta on Martin Luther King Day (January 19th) at noon CST. And they’ll be at home for another Wizards matchup on New Year’s Eve, plus a road tilt with New York on Black Friday.
• Milwaukee will be featured in 18 nationally televised broadcasts—actually one more than last year. That ranks 13th, two more than the Pistons and three less than the Clippers (the Warriors, Lakers, Knicks, and Thunder lead all teams with 34 each).
• That figure of 18 does not include NBA TV, but does include Peacock and Prime Video. Nine of their national games aren’t on a traditional cable network and are instead on either streaming platform.
• Over the air, the Bucks will be on old/new media partner NBC on Tuesdays four times: October 28th (Knicks), January 13th (Nuggets), January 27th (Sixers), and March 17th (Cavs). Like the last couple years, the team may announce other games that will be simulcast from FanDuel Sports Network on local TV affiliates around the state. That tends to happen in the second half of the year.
• Here’s one for Giannis, who always needs his pregame nap: their weekend matinees are November 9th (Rockets), February 1st (Celtics on ESPN), February 22nd (Raptors), March 1st (Bulls), March 14th (Hawks), March 15th (Pacers—a day game B2B!), March 28th (Spurs), March 29th (Clippers—another!), and April 5th (Grizzlies).
• Like last year, their longest road trip is five games. Thankfully, three of those games are in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Indianapolis. They have three four-game road trips, one of which doesn’t go out west.
• In early March, they have their longest homestand of five games. Last year, they had two four-game home stands; only one this year, but it happens right before the five-gamer I just mentioned.
• The Bucks have 14 back-to-backs, which is about average compared to the rest of the league. 12 teams have more B2Bs (either 15 or 16 B2Bs), and six teams have fewer (13). Last year, they had 16.
• Of those B2Bs, four come on the road, five have both ends at home, and the other five feature one end away and the other in Fiserv.
• For the 10 B2Bs that involve travel, here are the distances the team will have to fly (or bus) after the front end, sorted longest to shortest: Orlando to Oklahoma City, Milwaukee to Dallas, New York to Milwaukee, Atlanta to Milwaukee, Brooklyn to Detroit, Chicago to Memphis, Indiana to Toronto, Milwaukee to Detroit, and Chicago to Milwaukee. The flight time for the longest (Orlando to OKC) is around 2.5 hours; the rest are typically under two hours.
• The Bucks’ preseason schedule: at Miami on October 6, home versus Detroit on October 9, at Chicago on October 12, then back at home versus OKC on October 14—eight days before the regular season tips off.

That’s more than enough info about the Bucks’ 2025–26 regular season schedule. Anything sticking out to you? Let us know in the comments.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-sche...waukee-bucks-back-to-backs-nba-cup-road-trips

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking the Roster: The Jericho Sims wall finally falls at 11

Acquired on February 6 for Delon Wright, as part of the Kyle Kuzma-Khris Middleton trade, Jericho Sims played 15 minutes per game across 14 regular season games for Milwaukee, averaging 2.4 PPG and 4.9 RPG on 68% “shooting” from the field (right in line with his career averages of 2.3 PPG and 4.0 RPG on 71%). Overall, Sims proved to be a useful backup center, providing the Bucks with the fourth big they have lacked in recent years.

Glass half full, Sims excels on the defensive end, which is fitting considering his name—the city of Jericho is famous for having the world’s oldest known defensive wall. A physical specimen, Sims is adept at banging down low, but it’s his fleet footwork—which enables him to hedge and recover or switch onto smaller perimeter players and hold his own—that’s perhaps his most valuable skill set. The Bucks simply haven’t had this defensive versatility at the five, which bodes well for him earning at least regular rotational minutes.

Sims is also an extractor fan on the glass, using his preternatural vertical leap to rise above earth-bound opponents. This led to a total rebound percentage of 17.6% last year—in the same vicinity as All-Star bigs Victor Wembanyama (17.7%), Alperen Sengun (17.5%), and Evan Mobley (16.5%). Sims’ anti-gravity also makes him a gifted lob threat, offering another dimension the team has lacked alongside Giannis since Miles Plumlee turned a few oops into a four-year, $52m deal in 2016.

Less obvious, Sims has value as a screener, recording 2.5 screen assists per game in MKE—more than any other Buck sans Brook Lopez and the same as all-world screener Steven Adams. If all this is not enough, he offers elite trivia curio, having never missed a field goal in the playoffs—look it up!

Glass half empty, Sims can largely be ignored on the offensive end outside of lobs and put-backs—all those off-season lefty Js need to be seen in game to garner any actual merit. And, like the wall of Jericho, Sims’ hands are made of stone—his 30.1% turnover percentage ranked eighth-worst in the entire league.

Defensively, Sims isn’t the shot-blocker you’d imagine either. Despite his athleticism—which does lead to some highlight swats—his 2.8% block percentage last year placed him in the same realm as guys like P.J. Washington (2.8%) and DeAndre Ayton (2.9%). For comparison, newly acquired Myles Turner had a 6.0% block percentage (third in the league for qualified players), while Bobby Portis was at 1.9%.

Looking ahead, Sims’ role with the Bucks seems pretty clear: play 10–15 minutes per night as the fourth big, focusing on defense, rebounding, and screening. He’ll likely rack up a few DNP-CDs but will just as likely earn several spot starts (or at least more significant minutes) when one of Giannis, Turner, or Portis inevitably misses time.

Between cacophonous crams and Superman-spiked stuffs, here’s hoping Jericho holds up better than his namesake.

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How do you see Sims impacting the Bucks’ playoff rotation? Add your thoughts in the comments and vote below for who you believe is Milwaukee’s 10th-best player. Polls close at 9 a.m. (Central) tomorrow.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/50831/milwaukee-bucks-nba-ranking-roster-jericho-sims

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking The Roster: Taurean Prince sneaks into the top 10

The strongest point of the 2024–25 Milwaukee Bucks was, without a doubt, their three-point shooting, leading the league in percentage at 37.8%. Yet with names like Damian Lillard, Gary Trent Jr., and Brook Lopez on the team, you wouldn’t expect journeyman wing Taurean Prince to finish third in the league in three-point percentage at 43.9%. After being signed back on a 1+1 deal in the offseason, Prince finds his way onto our rankings as the 10th most important Milwaukee Buck.

Prince is entering his 10th year in the league, and while he isn’t the starting-level player he was during his days with the Atlanta Hawks, he still can bring value to this Bucks team. Over his 10 seasons, he’s played for six teams, and this will only be the third time in his career that he will play with the same team for more than one season. He played three years with the Hawks (2016–18) and two with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2021–22). Other than that, he’s had stops with the Brooklyn Nets (2019), Cleveland Cavaliers (2020), and the Los Angeles Lakers (2023).

Obviously, Prince is very limited in terms of what he can do on the offensive side of the ball, being relegated to catch-and-shoot three-point shooting, particularly from the corner. Don’t expect him to be picking up a lot of shots off the dribble, with 98.6% of Prince’s three pointers being assisted, and 173 of his 335 attempts (51.6%) from the corner (shot 45.1% on those). All year, Prince only *attempted* 154 shots in the paint and 25 shots from the midrange out of 514 total shots he had all season.

On the defensive side of the ball, there is still some value, but only in the right situations. While he was on the floor a lot and was tasked with guarding some of the better wings, he still had the second-worst defensive rating on the Bucks at 114.5 (0.1 ahead of Lillard, who was at 114.6). One of my biggest frustrations with the starting lineup during the playoffs was Doc Rivers’ insistence on playing Prince at shooting guard, where his lack of speed and lateral movement got him killed against Indiana’s faster guards like Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin. Prince is better utilized as a small forward or a small-ball power forward, where he can guard wings and smaller fours. At 6’6” and 218 pounds, he’s got that prototypical size you want in a backup three-and-D wing.

As for where Prince fits into the 2025 Bucks puzzle, it’s plain and simple. Regardless of who the Bucks opt to start at small forward, whether it be Kyle Kuzma, Gary Trent Jr., or AJ Green, Prince will be a solid bench piece for the Bucks. Being able to come in and provide defense and spacing for the bench unit at about 12–16 minutes per game is precisely what his role should be. We all know how it went with him starting, and while the defense and three-point shooting were good, this Bucks team can’t afford to have non-creators in the starting lineup with Lillard gone.

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Where do you think Prince fits into the Bucks’ rotation for this season? Add your thoughts in the comments and vote below for who you believe is Milwaukee’s ninth most imporant player. Polls close at 10 a.m. (Central) tomorrow.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/51537/milwaukee-bucks-ranking-roster-taurean-prince

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking The Roster: Cole Anthony enters at 9th

Cole Anthony is the most exciting addition the Bucks made this offseason outside of Myles Turner. As a team that needed some backcourt depth, Milwaukee was smart to snatch him up after the Grizzlies waived him. Anthony is a reliable backup ball handler with some aura to his game (as the youth would say), who should be able to make an impact on this team regardless of the size of his role.

In five years with the Magic, Anthony averaged 12.5 PPG and 3.8 APG. His best individual season was his sophomore campaign in 2021–22, when he posted 16.3 PPG and 5.7 APG. The young guard is an uber-confident scorer from every level and a true microwave, the type of guy who can change the tides of a game when he gets hot. He’s at his best with the ball in his hands and the freedom to be creative. He’s very comfortable knocking down pull-up jumpers from two and from three. Further, Anthony is never afraid of the moment. As a rookie, he sought out and delivered on a game-winning shot, and that’s far from his only clutch highlight. He’s not just a scorer, though. He’s also a generally trustworthy decision maker who keeps turnovers at a minimum. He can run a pick-and-roll effectively and find his teammates in their spots. That’s what separates him from other score-first bench guards, such as Jordan Clarkson.

Defensively, there isn’t much to write home about with Anthony. Respectfully, he’s relatively frail in stature at 6’2”, 185 pounds, which limits how far his sparky competitive nature can take him. However, he’s proven that he’s not a full-on liability in the right infrastructure, as he managed to keep his head above water for the most part on the defensive-minded Magic. The Bucks have enough size to surround him with in order to make him less of a detriment on that end.

The best part about Anthony, though, is that he is a super cool dude. You can dig up plenty of funny clips of him from on and off the court, such as the one linked above. He plays with the skip and swagger of a guy who simply loves to hoop. It probably won’t be long until he becomes a fan favorite in Milwaukee.

So, what role will Anthony play for the Bucks this year? It’s unlikely he’s named the starting point guard, unless Kevin Porter Jr. struggles mightily. Off the pine, Anthony will be sharing playing time with Ryan Rollins, meaning there could be nights where the new acquisition is limited to just 10–15 minutes. Luckily, Anthony can still contribute with quick buckets in short stints, and he’s also always ready to step up and take on more responsibility in the event of injuries. His hallmark performance last season came on December 21st when he led the severely undermanned Magic to a win by putting up 35 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in 28 minutes.

Overall, picking up Cole Anthony has the potential to be a home-run move for Milwaukee, especially on a minimum contract. How confident are you in his ability to contribute this season?

Leave your thoughts below, and don’t forget to vote on the next polls before 9 a.m. CST tomorrow!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/51441/milwaukee-bucks-nba-ranking-roster-cole-anthony

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking The Roster: Ryan Rollins rockets to 8th

What a career it’s been for point guard Ryan Rollins during his three years in the league. After only playing 22 games between his time with the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards, Rollins came into Milwaukee on a two-way contract after the All-Star break in 2024. With injuries to Damian Lillard throughout the year, Rollins took advantage and broke out in a big way last season. For that, he comes in at no. 8 on RTR, up nine spots from the start of last season.

For his efforts, Rollins earned himself a fully guaranteed contract worth $12m over three years this offseason, with the last year of that deal being a player option. Thanks to a bigger volume of playing time and touches, Rollins set career highs in minutes (14.6), points (6.2), rebounds (1.9), and assists per game (1.9). Rollins is a jack of all trades kind of player on the offensive side of the ball, shooting 66.7% from the restricted area, 46.8% from the paint outside the restricted area, 40.6% from the mid range, and 40.8% from the three-point line (2.1 attempts from that range). He has the chops to score both off the dribble and catch-and-shoot, with 56.1% of his makes being assisted and 43.9% unassisted. While he doesn’t have an All-Star level ceiling offensively, there is still more to unlock, and he can surely average in double-figures with an even bigger role than he had last season.

But defense was really what got Rollins into the rotation in the first place. Rollins had the best defensive field goal percentage on the Bucks at 43.6%—1.7% better than Giannis—and nearly averaged a steal per game (0.8). He also had the second-best defensive rating on the Bucks with a 108.6 rating, one point behind AJ Green. With a 6-foot-10 wingspan and an 8’4.5″ standing reach, he has an exceptional physical profile and makes life hell for most ball handlers in front of him. His ceiling is much higher on the defensive end; there, he could be an All-Defensive second-teamer.

As for his role, he is in firm contention to be the starting point guard. It may end up being duked out during training camp, but he has carved out quite the role for himself after last year. I could see anywhere from 17 to 24 minutes per game for Rollins, a substantial increase from 2024–25. I think he has one of the best potentials out of the young players on the team to be a star in his role.

Rollins has proven himself to be a key contributor to the Bucks, but just how significant an impact will he make in 2025? Go ahead and vote in the poll below to tell us how much you think Rollins will be involved in the playoff rotation.

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Be sure to leave your comments on Rollins, and if you think he was ranked too high, too low, or just right. We’re getting closer and closer to the top five, so make sure you vote before tomorrow at 9 a.m. (Central)!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/51598/milwaukee-bucks-ranking-roster-ryan-rollins

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking The Roster: Kyle Kuzma underwhelms at 7th

When preparing this series, the question on everyone’s mind was who would fall on the sword and write about Kyle Kuzma. I decided to be that person because what better way to self-depreciate yourself than CHOOSING to try and explain Kyle Kuzma’s importance to the team this season? Kuzma has made it to the top ten, finishing 7th in our ranking, which seems to be a perfect encapsulation of Kyle Kuzma’s tenure on the Bucks.

We can all acknowledge that Kuzma had an uphill climb to win over the fans. Milwaukee’s beloved franchise legend, Khris Middleton, was part of a trade that brought Kuzma to the Bucks, which is hard and not something Kyle could control. The only way to win the fans is through his play, and Kuzma gave glimpses of how he could fit into the Bucks.

But that’s the case with Kyle Kuzma. There are “concepts” and “ideas” of a role he can play. He has the physical tools to work in the modern NBA. He has the look of a basketball player. However, it’s been long enough in his career that we must admit defeat in hoping those ideas and concepts will work for the Bucks.

Kyle Kuzma simply does not contribute to winning basketball.

Despite the physical tools, Kuzma’s inability to finish around the rim is infuriating, and there were plenty of moments where he would put up a tough layup when it wasn’t necessary. His desire to shoot threes as a stretch four does more harm than good with his severely underwhelming shooting percentages. The basketball IQ when the ball isn’t in his hands is above average, and then it downgrades when the ball is in his hands. His Game 1 against the Pacers in this year’s playoff series was the definition of just getting some cardio. When Kuzma was pulled from the rotation, the Bucks’ performance in Games 4 and 5 showed how much of a non-factor he was.

To his credit, Kuzma’s defense is passable. He does give effort, and his length can cause passing lanes to not exist for the opposing team. The highlight of Kuzma’s defense was his showing against Joel Embiid against the Sixers shortly after the trade deadline, where he held his own and frustrated Embiid. Kuzma was also one of the few Bucks who wanted to get rebounds and succeed in a team where too many guys were hoping Brook Lopez could box out three dudes, and the ball would land to them. This is where Kuzma can provide value and usefulness this season for the Bucks as Doc Rivers attempts to solve the puzzle of his big rotation.

Kuzma’s value might be best as a trade piece, and I’m sure general manager Jon Horst will try to find a package that includes Kuzma when we get close to the trade deadline. That will be tough, as Kuzma’s stock is as low and worthless as that of the US industrial sector in October 1929. I’m unsure what will happen, but ideally, Jon Horst doesn’t have his version of the Smoot-Hawley Act. For Kuzma, being in a category of terrible midseason trade acquisitions, including Jae Crowder, wasn’t what the Bucks leadership or Doc Rivers imagined. It simply can’t go on like this, can it!?!?

It can.

6th is next. Check back tomorrow for a preview of him.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/51615/milwaukee-bucks-nba-ranking-roster-kyle-kuzma

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking The Roster: AJ Green shoots his way to 6th

As the biggest AJ Green fan on the Brew Hoop staff, I get the privilege of writing his Ranking The Roster piece every season. Last year, I said people needed to buy their AJ Green stocks now, as they would only grow in value, and boy, did they skyrocket. Green again improved from last year’s ranking, where fans voted him 9th, and even that seems low and insulting 12 months later after last season’s breakout. He takes 6th this year.

Last year, Green saw a career high in all statistical areas. He finished last season playing in 73 games, starting seven of them, scoring 7.4 PPG and shooting 42.7% from three. Green played in all five games of the playoffs last spring and notched 11 PPG, shooting a blistering 51.4% from three.

It was going to be intriguing to see if Green was only going to get rotation minutes because of injuries to other veterans. Still, Doc Rivers decided to play Green ahead of other young players, Andre Jackson Jr., and veteran Pat Connaughton. With Khris Middleton’s departure, Green stepped in and filled the role of sharpshooter alongside Gary Trent Jr. Who would have thought that in a do-or-die Game 5, Green was going to be heavily relied on to try and save Milwaukee’s season? Though he had a sloppy end to that game, this was an overall great season for Dairy Bird.

Next season will be a big test; he no longer will fly under the radar in the scouting report, and that could result in tighter coverage and a slight dip in his shooting numbers. Green isn’t a terrible defender, but the Bucks will need improvement from him, especially in terms of his fouling and team defense. These are small things, but Green is firmly established as a reliable rotation player for the Milwaukee Bucks, as I always knew he could be.

We begin the top five next. Check back tomorrow for a preview of who wins fifth.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/51678/milwaukee-bucks-nba-ranking-roster-aj-green

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking the Roster: Bobby Portis gets on the list at 5th

Bobby Portis was the Bucks’ biggest re-signing priority this offseason. The front office took it down to the wire, but before the player-option deadline, Portis signed a three-year deal worth $43.5m, with the last year being a player option. Now that Portis is back in hunter green, he comes in at fifth on the roster ranking, a one-spot improvement from last year. Funnily enough, Bobby has finished fifth in five of his six seasons in the Cream City.

2024-25 was a trying season for Big Bob, both on and off the court. Back in November of ‘24, his home was burglarized. Then, at the end of January, his grandmother passed away, someone he valued dearly. Finally, to top it all off, he was suspended 25 games after the All-Star break for taking the wrong painkiller, which reportedly happened by complete accident. Portis was having one of his better seasons and seemed on track for another top-three Sixth Man of the Year finish, averaging 13.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 2.2 APG.

Fans know the type of player Portis is at this stage of his career: an offensive force off the bench who can be very frustrating on the other end. He can have games where he scores 34 points on 14/21 shooting, grabs 10 rebounds, and dishes out eight assists. Yet there are other nights where he goes for four points on 1/8 shooting, chucking shots that he shouldn’t be chucking. Although more often than not, he ends up being a net positive for the Bucks, as evidenced by his +3.4 net rating, which was fifth on the team last year. Portis isn’t much of a defender, never averaging one block or steal per game in his career. He does, however, offer some switchability on that end, as we saw in the playoffs against the Pacers. That said, there’s a reason the Bucks doggedly pursued Myles Turner to be the team’s new starting center; Portis’ skill set best fits this team as a backup, and it always has.

With a clearly defined role as the sixth man and a new contract, a lot has already been settled for BP. With all of that in mind, where do you think he ends up factoring in to the Bucks’ rotation come playoff time?

---

There are now just four players left to vote on for the Bucks, so make sure to cast your ballot before tomorrow at 9 a.m. CDT!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/51735/milwaukee-bucks-nba-ranking-roster-bobby-portis

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking The Roster: Kevin Porter Jr. becomes important at work at 4th

After arriving via mid-season trade last year from the LA Clippers, Kevin Porter Jr. became a key cog in Milwaukee’s rotation—and will be even more crucial this season. Somehow, the Bucks got Porter, only needing to give up MarJon Beauchamp. Granted, you can see why the Clippers didn’t view KPJ as all that important; he shot 42.3% from the field and 24.5% from three with them. However, Milwaukee seemed a much better fit for Kevin, who looked revitalised in Bucks green, upping those percentages to 49.4% from the field and a blistering (but probably not sustainable) 40.8% from three.

Of course, everyone knows about Porter’s rocky past before coming back to the NBA last year. We know there’s a wealth of talent there; it just needs to be harnessed in the right way. I mostly lauded Kevin’s performance with Milwaukee in the above paragraph, but he did have the odd game where he looked completely unfocused—that can’t happen this year. With no Dame waiting in the wings, the Bucks will ask a lot out of Porter. He’ll need to grow into a real conductor role with this team as the presumed starting point guard; Doc won’t have the luxury of just playing him 10–15 minutes. And is there a chance that strategy is setting both Kevin and the Bucks up to fail? Maybe. But that’s the situation. KPJ will be well and truly thrown into the deep end this season, and we’re all going to find out if he can swim.

Getting more into the on-court specifics, Porter will be crucial as one of the team’s few live-ball playmakers. Passing is a skill that players either have or they don’t; it’s tough to develop. Kevin has it; he just needs to be efficient and limit his turnovers. Porter will need to throw lobs to rolling big men in Giannis and Jericho Sims; he’ll need to build chemistry with the shooting centres in Myles Turner and Bobby Portis. How does he get shooters like AJ Green and Gary Trent involved?

Although I prefer it not to be the case, we know Giannis is likely to have increased usage, but KPJ will also handle the ball fairly often. From a scoring standpoint, you hope Porter has been working on his shot off the catch this offseason, because he’ll need to be better than the 30.8% catch-and-shoot mark he was at last season. I believe he has a natural touch, which is evident when he maneuvers into the mid-range (41.8% on pull-ups last year), but he needs to knock down open shots from deep.

The part of the game I’m maybe most optimistic about for KPJ, though, is on defence. If you are making an optimistic case about the Bucks this season, being one of the top defensive teams really must be part of your argument. At 6’4” with a 6’9” wingspan, solid body, and quick feet, Kevin has all the tools to be a good defensive player; he just needs to commit on that end. Obviously, fans are aware of his instincts and nose for the ball, which was exemplified in the five-steal game late in the season against Minnesota.

In closing, there will be a lot on KPJ’s plate this season, and that could be a bad idea. But I’m choosing to be optimistic. Anyway, please vote for who’s next below!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/50828/milwaukee-bucks-nba-ranking-roster-kevin-porter-jr

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Ranking The Roster: Gary Trent Jr. rides with the front of the herd at 3rd

Gary Trent Jr. was never supposed to be this important.

A surprise signing in July 2024, Trent was meant to be the final piece, the fifth option, the three-and-D guard to complement Giannis, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez. He was meant to join the carousel of ~6’4” shooting guards that had come and gone before him—Donte DiVincenzo, Grayson Allen, and Malik Beasley—and fulfill the modus operandi: space the floor, hit the open three, protect the rock, and play respectable defence. Yet, as this offseason has once again proven, what was is not always what is.

Despite high hopes and a buzz after opening night—where he hounded Tyrese Maxey to 10/31 shooting—Trent had a shaky start with the Bucks. Over the season’s first seven games, he averaged a meager 8.0 PPG and his shooting was brutal: 28.8% from the field and 23.1% from three. Pressure mounting with a 1-7 record, Doc Rivers promptly pulled Trent from his starting role and, in a flash, the Bucks found themselves winners of 9/10.

Just as quickly, Trent found his rhythm too, shooting a blistering 52.1% from three over that same stretch. This continued for the rest of the season, with Trent converting an elite 42.2% from long range, though he was never able to regain that starting spot despite the team’s obvious need for, you know, an actual guard to start at the two (what’s up, Doc? indeed).

Overall, Trent’s shooting was a tale of two sides: elite from deep but rough at the rim. Per Cleaning the Glass, he ranked in the 85th percentile among wings on three-point accuracy (88th percentile from the corners, 79th percentile from non-corner locations) but in just the 15th percentile for accuracy on shots at the rim. This disparity speaks to Trent’s lack of explosion, a limitation exacerbated by his pedestrian handle. Unsurprisingly, this combination inhibits his creation for others too—among wings, his 6.5% assist percentage ranked in just the 7th percentile.

Perhaps most stark, however, is the difference in Trent’s shooting performances in wins vs. losses—he shot ten percentage points worse from the field in losses (47.1% vs. 37.2%), including a whopping 13 percentage point drop from three (46.7% vs. 33.7%). So, does Trent’s success lead to the Bucks’ success, or vice versa?

In the playoffs, Trent went supernova: 18.8 PPG on 51.6% from the field and 50.0% from three (on 8.8 attempts per game). He also led the playoffs in steals per game (2.6) while only turning the ball over three times for the entire series—it just happened to be that two of those came in the final 29 seconds of overtime in Game 5. Welp. Tragic irony aside, Trent’s playoff performance grabbed the mic and screamed: I am not afraid of the moment!

And, now, here we are. For the first time in a decade, the Bucks’ hierarchy isn’t set in stone. Giannis will lead, of course—and the defence should be strong—but who will step up on the offensive end of the court? Largely, the team will need to play it by committee, and the roster certainly has the personnel to do so. Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Cole Anthony, AJ Green, and even Ryan Rollins can go off on any given night. But, with cojones Sam Cassell would be proud of, don’t be surprised if it’s Trent more often than not.

Should this happen, come next offseason, Trent might just have found what he told Sportskeeda he wanted when he first signed with Milwaukee: “a home base and [to] be part of something long-term.”

What was is not always what is—or what will be…

---

Gary Trent Jr. was never supposed to be this important. But he is.

For better or worse.

What are your thoughts on Trent’s place in the Bucks’ “big three” and is anyone crazy enough to think Myles Turner is more important to the team’s success than Giannis?

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/51028/milwaukee-bucks-nba-ranking-roster-gary-trent-jr

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks Media Day: Highlights from Wes Edens, Jon Horst, and Doc Rivers

After months of waiting, we have finally arrived at Milwaukee Bucks Media Day! Today, I was at Fiserv Forum bringing you live updates and highlights from Bucks brass, coaches, and players as they embark on the 2025 season. In the first set of interviews, co-owner and governor Wes Edens held a solo press conference, followed by a joint press conference with General Manager Jon Horst and Head Coach Doc Rivers.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter Jim Owczarski opened the questioning for Edens, asking about the decision-making process to give Horst a multiyear contract extension back in April:

Wes Edens on GM Jon Horst’s extension: “Jon has been a tremendous asset to the organization. It was a very simple decision.”

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T17:18:08.854Z

When asked about Giannis’ commitment level in Milwaukee by ESPN’s Jamal Collier, he told us that Giannis made it clear in June that he was committed to Milwaukee (although that was later contradicted by Giannis, but more on that later):

Wes Edens on his discussions with Giannis on his commitment level to the Bucks:“I had a great conversation with Giannis in June, and he made it clear that he is committed to Milwaukee and he likes having his family here.”

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T16:11:24.210Z

Edens also talked about the process the team went through to bring in a player like Myles Turner by having to waive and stretch Damian Lillard:

Edens on having to cut Damian Lillard to get Turner:“It was a big decision for us, you don’t stretch and waive Damian Lillard without a lot of introspection. Damian is a tremendous basketball player; he is also a tremendous person, so on a personal basis, that was a really hard decision to make.”

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T19:14:56.764Z

Edens followed that up by saying he believes the Bucks have a strong chance to come out of the Eastern Conference and that the decision to bring on Myles Turner proved they are serious about winning:

Edens: "There's a big chance to come out of the East." Said he talk to Giannis in June and "he made it very clear he's committed to Milwaukee." #NBASkyEdens noted the decisions to waive/stretch Damian Lillard & signing Myles Turner indicated the commitment to winning.

— Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T16:10:57.772Z

Before leaving the podium, Edens talked about the current state of the local TV rights, and where he sees they could go in the future:

“We’re very fortunate to have a very attractive market, in the restructuring of those contracts. We were considered to be one of the more attractive markets, and that’s because there’s a good audience here in Wisconsin. I do think when you look at the landscapes, we have a tremendous long-term national deal that starts next year, $7 billion a year. I think that when you look at local TV rights over the last five, even 10 years, they’ve kind of gone the other direction. That said, there’s a lot of interest in local rights, and so maybe this evolves in a more collaborative way. I think what Phoenix has done, what Utah has done, [is] definitely one possibility for it.”

After Edens, it was Horst and Rivers who stepped up to talk with the press. Before things even got started, Horst dropped some big news that Giannis wouldn’t be attending Media Day and would miss the start of training camp, due to contracting COVID-19 while still in Greece. Once he is healthy and starts testing negative, Giannis will travel back to the US to join the team. Giannis later joined media day via Zoom, at around 9 p.m. local time in Greece.

BREAKING: Jon Horst confirms that Giannis is not present for Media Day, citing a COVID-19 infection.

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T16:36:02.952Z

After an opening statement, Horst was asked about his contract extension and cited multiple seasons to stay in Milwaukee, bringing up his desire to win, among other, more personal connections with the team and city:

Horst on his contract extension: “This is home, I have a 13-year-old daughter, a nine-year-old son now, and they were born and raised here.” “We love this city, I love working with Doc, I love working with Peter (Feign), we have a great relationship at the top.”

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T17:10:56.704Z

Horst also gave an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the team and AJ Green, who is eligible for an extension:

Horst on a potential AJ Green extension: “We’ve had a lot of conversations with AJ and his agent, good conversations, we’d love to have AJ with us for a long time, and we are working on that…we're having the conversations and hoping to work something out."

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T20:26:39.728Z

Doc Rivers talked about the role that new starting center Myles Turner would have with his new team, compared to what he did in his 10 seasons with the Indiana Pacers:

“Similar role, but doing more. His ability to stretch the floor will stay the same, his three-point shooting, hopefully we can get him more threes this year. One of the things that Myles is really grown into is he punishes switches. You switch a guard on him, he’ll put his head underneath the basket and punish you for it and I think that’s something we wanna use. His ability to block shots and on the other end to grab offensive rebounds. Then I thought last year they used him on the elbows more as a passer and a facilitator and we can use him in that role as well.”

For those wondering who might be in the starting lineup come October 22nd, Rivers didn’t really give any hints at who he’s thinking about, but did say he has two or three different combinations he’s looking at to go with:

Rivers: He will not name a starting lineup, but feels he has "two or three" he's thinking of, which are different from one another. #NBASky

— Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T16:43:26.729Z

Those were my biggest takeaways from the press conference with the Bucks brass. Let me know what else stood out to you in the comments below. Next up will be highlights from the press conferences with Giannis, Myles Turner, and Bobby Portis.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-news...day-highlights-wes-edens-jon-horst-doc-rivers

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks Media Day: Highlights from Giannis, Myles Turner, and the rest of the Bucks

I’m back with my second article of the day from Milwaukee Bucks Media Day. If you missed my takeaways from the press conferences of Governor Wes Edens, General Manager Jon Horst, and Head Coach Doc Rivers, make sure to head on over here first to read about the latest from those. In this one, I’ll be bringing you the most noteworthy moments from what might be the new big three (this time, literally big) of the Bucks in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, and Bobby Portis.

We’ll start with Giannis, who—if you missed it—couldn’t make today’s festivities due to contracting COVID-19 while in Greece. He joined the present media via Zoom and talked about his disappointment in missing the start of training camp:

“I’m definitely disappointed, I’m bumbed out that I’m not able to be there with the team. As a leader, I don’t feel good about it, but at the end of the day, this is life. Things like this, you don’t know when it’s going to happen, and how it’s going to happen. Right now, I am definitely bummed that I’m not able to be there day one and for the team to feel my presence and feel my seriousness, and how much I want to compete, and for us to have a great year. But at the end of the day, I think they will understand, and if I’m not there today, I’ll be there in a few days, and we’ll get the ball rolling.”

When asked about the meeting he had with Edens in June, Giannis, at least at this moment in time, said he couldn’t recall that meeting:

Giannis says that he can’t currently recall the meeting Edens referred to.

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T17:34:32.321Z

Eric Nehm of The Athletic asked, in a pivot off Giannis not remembering the meeting, about what allows him to keep believing that this team is the place for him to win championships:

“I believe in my teammates, that’s pretty much it. I believe in the people around me, I believe in my teammates, I believe in the moves that they make (referring to the front office), we’re young, and hopefully we can get on the same page.”

Giannis was asked about his thoughts on the new NBA All-Star game format, where it would have two U.S. teams and then a team comprised of the best international players from the rest of the world:

Giannis, when asked about the proposed ASG format: "I love it, I think it was my idea. I think it's going to be exciting for people to watch, I'm going to play hard, but I think it's going to bring a bit more juice to the game."

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T21:59:37.699Z

Of course, Giannis commented on the moves to waive and stretch Damian Lillard, which allowed them to bring in Myles Turner as the new Robin to Giannis’ Batman:

“For me, they are two different moves. Starting with Myles, he was one of the bigs that I feel like we could fit so well together, I think he gives our team so much depth as one of the best bigs in the league. He can shoot, take you off the dribble, he’s a great defender, after that he’s an unbelievable guy in the locker room, very high character guy, so I’m very excited for him, and it’s an incredible move by the Bucks.”

“Dame, I still have a great relationship with him and will always have a great relationship with him. I understand the business side, we had a conversation, but I would like to keep it between me and him. He understands it, I think he’s in a very happy place right now, back home in Portland with a team he played a lot of years with. Going back is such a good move for him and his family, to be around his family, to be around people that love him, so I’m very happy for him. My friendship with him will be bigger than basketball.”

Over the summer, Giannis went back to Europe to play with Greece in the EuroBasket tournament, looking to help Greece medal for the first time since 2009. He did just that, leading Hellas to a bronze medal in a third-place match win over Finland. Giannis talked about what that meant to him today:

“Representing your national team, it’s one of the biggest honors you can receive. For our national team, we had so many years where we didn’t medal, in the history of our national team I think we’ve had six medals, so you can understand how important it is to bring back a medal to the country is. It’s something that, when you play a World Cup game or in the semifinals the whole country stops what they’re doing to watch the game, everybody supports the national team. The first time I really watched basketball was 2005 or ‘06, when the national team beat the USA team. They inspired me that maybe I could play on the national team one day, maybe I can be one of those guys. It’s one of the biggest accomplishments of my life, it was one of the things I wanted to do; I’m happy I did it.”

One other offseason move of note that was very relevant to Giannis was bringing back his older brother Thanasis on a one-year deal. It’s safe to say he is very happy to have him back (officially) on the team.

Giannis on his older brother Thansis coming back to the Bucks this season, via Eric Nehm on Twitter/X: "I love that Thanasis is on the team…He's such an incredible leader. He's such a vocal point in the locker room…People don't understand how valuable he is to our team."

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T22:36:36.246Z

Before going to bed after spending 20 minutes with the assembled media, Giannis once again addressed the offseason rumors about whether or not he would leave Milwaukee:

Giannis Antetokounmpo says "There's truth to every report" from the summer, but added that every offseason he wants to see the team trying to compete."It's not the first time." (Which is true. He's said similar things since 2018.)"I want to win another championship. That's it."#NBASky

— Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T17:44:00.510Z

The big ticket free agent signing in Myles Turner was up next, and he started out his presser by talking about what his new outlook is being in a new place for the first time in 10 years:

“I’m embracing change, embracing this cool part of my career, entering my prime at 29 years old and my 11th season. I’m in a city now that wants to celebrate me, they’ve been nothing but welcoming and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Turner talked about how he can help the Bucks get back to their more aggressive style of defense:

“The rim protection is going to be what it is, but different pick-and-roll coverages. I’m not necessarily a drop big. I am someone who is a little bit more aggressive at the point of attack, someone who can get out and attack the ball a little bit more and at times switch out and defender on the perimeter as well”

After Turner, his backup, Bobby Portis, came in. While they were switching out, Turner started a mini “Bobby, Bobby, Bobby” chant. Portis joked about his relationship with Turner, and he talked about how excited he is to play with Turner and Giannis:

BP on his relationship with Myles Turner: “I'm glad me and him never got into any scuffles in those series. Me, Giannis, and Myles will all be 30 years old at the same time and grow together. Can’t find another team with three better bigs.”

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T18:23:08.262Z

Bobby also talked about the leadership role he now plays, as he heads into his age-31 season:

“I got a different outlook on what was next for us, and what’s next for us is me being a leader, being able to step up and help coach the young guys. I’ve always been a leader, I think now (I’m) just at the forefront of it where guys are really receptive of it and really hone in [on] what I’m saying.”

Turner wasn’t the only free agent singing who spoke today, with Amir Coffey, Cole Anthony, and the returning Gary Trent Jr. They didn’t have much to say, but there were still some interesting nuggets from this trio. Trent was the first of the three to go, and he talked about his process in returning to the Bucks for at least another season:

Gary Trent Jr on re-signing with the #Bucks: “The market, due to my future, and the best chance for me to play winning basketball and have an impact on winning.” “Being in memorable games and different things like that, and of all the options I had, this was the best one.”

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T17:59:41.931Z

Coffey talked about how not only could he help maximize the Bucks and Giannis, but how Giannis could maximize his skillset:

“He’s a star, he’s a great player, he’s a force for other teams. I feel like day in and day out, he’s gonna bring what he brings and [the team is] putting players around him that can emphasize that. Floor spacers, defenders; having guys that can elevate his game makes the team better. Myself, just being player that plays on both sides of the ball, shoot it, get to the basket, play within the offense, off the ball that’s some of the stuff I’ve been doing in LA. And also being a defender on the other side and being able to switch, guard multiple positions, and just being trustworthy player on both sides of the ball.”

This was a fun one, where Cole Anthony closed out the day by sharing his reaction when he decided to sign with the Bucks:

Cole Anthony, when he signed with the Bucks:"This is gas, this is fire." Gen Z in the NBA is here, and I'm so here for it

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T18:29:37.987Z

He also commented on being able to wear his dad Greg’s number with one of the teams he played for:

“This is a true full circle moment. I wore my pop’s number in Orlando, which is cool, and I got to honor him there. Now playing on a team that he was a part of, wearing the same number; there’s not a lot of NBA players who can say they’ve done that. I wear the Bucks jersey with pride, I wear the Anthony jersey with pride, and I think it’s dope.”

Thank you for following along all day long as we embark on the 2025 season for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks open up preseason play on a week from today October 6th on the road against the Miami Heat.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-news...annis-antetokounmpo-myles-turner-bobby-portis

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bring da ruckus: Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Nikola Jokic

A court. Somewhere—east coast, west, heartland, Europe—it doesn’t matter. The hardwood’s what’s important. The rims. 10 feet high, nylon freshly twined; the history of basketball and everything it touches woven into the cords. This is life.

Inside, the stands are cloaked in black, the court a player strutting and fretting on stage. Spot-lit. A monologue mid-verse. At the top of the key, a monolith: Nikola Jokic.

He catches the ball, back to the basket. Guards and wings pirouette around him like hummingbirds, looking for a hand-off. Cutters flash to the dunker’s spot, anticipating a no-look lob. Defenders scurry like ants before rain. The supercomputer processes it all—the light, the motion, the angles. The defense is on edge. He feigns a pass, spins around his defender, lumbers towards the rim—a tank traversing tumultuous terrain.

In the far corner, another giant comes to life. Chiselled from marble, the colossus rotates at the hips, limbs contracting and extending, simultaneously glacial and instantaneous; temporal dilation in full effect. The Greek god scoffs at time and space—they are nothing to him. His body coils, preloads, then the plantar flexion does the rest. Flight and fight.

At the summit, it’s quiet. Snow wafts through the whispering wind. But, as the giants converge, their fury echoes, speaks in thunder: the ruckus is coming.

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What the “experts” say ​

No off-season is complete without barbershop banter, playground parley, and… online outcry? Alright, you get the point—player rankings are irrevocably part of hoops culture. We bruise on that. So, here’s how the prominent outlets have most recently ranked Jokic and Giannis (with some of these rankings predating the 2024–25 season):

View Link

What about their respective places on all-time rankings?

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*Note: the CBS and ESPN rankings were of the top 25 players of the 21st century.

The message is clear: Nikola Jokic, both now and all time, is widely regarded as a better basketball player than Giannis Antetokounmpo. But, as Ghostface and Raekwon pondered, can it be all so simple?

Hardware​

Both Jokic and Giannis could never play again and be first-ballot Hall of Famers, ranking comfortably towards the top of the NBA’s pantheon of greats. Needless to say, their trophy cabinets are stacked:

View Link

While Giannis has played two more years than Jokic, he’s just 75 days older, so they’re effectively on the same NBA timeline. And while Jokic does have an additional MVP, Milwaukee’s finest clearly has the greater collection of accolades overall.

Advantage: Giannis.

Stats rule everything around me​

Let’s get this straight: both Jokic and Giannis are statistical juggernauts, and have been for some time. Jokic won his first MVP in the 2020–21 season and, from the start of that season until now, has averaged an absurd 26.8 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 9.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.7 BPG on ridiculous .586/.378/.822 shooting splits. In that time, he’s finished no lower than second in MVP honours and claimed four of his five All-NBA first team selections.

Since his first MVP season back in 2018–19, Giannis has been equally dominant—you don’t get crowned the new-age M.D.E. for nothing—averaging 29.6 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.3 BPG on .575/.284/.670 shooting. In this seven-year stretch, Giannis has finished no lower than fourth in MVP voting and earned All-NBA first team honours each year. His defensive impact—less-easily quantifiable by stats—also warrants mention, as he’s finished no lower than ninth in Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) voting during that span.

The takeaways are what you’d expect—Jokic bests Giannis in assists and shooting efficiency, while Giannis has Jokic’s number in points, blocks, and defense. Everything else is a wash.

Digging deeper, Jokic is the advanced stat darling of the two. In fact, in “collect-all” stats like Player Efficiency Rating (PER), Win Shares per 48 minutes (WS/48), and Box Plus/Minus (BPM), he holds the all-time career records. He’s also led the league in Value over Replacement Player (VORP) in each of the last five seasons.

However, Giannis is no slouch either, with peak scores similar to Jokic’s in PER (32.1 vs. 32.8) and WS/48 (.292 vs. .308). His defensive rating—ranging from a best of 97.4 to a worst of 113.2 in the seven-year span—is also better than Jokic’s (ranging from 108.9–115.1). It’s also worth noting that Giannis has carried a significantly higher usage percentage over this stretch—34.7% compared to Jokic’s 29.5% over five. This kind of volume typically suppresses efficiency metrics, making Giannis’ sustained production all the more impressive—especially for a guy who “can’t shoot.”

There is a litany of other stats that could be thrown into the mix, but in a battle as mythic as this, it’s what happens when the game is on the line that matters most. Per 100 possessions, here’s how they fared in the clutch during the 2024–25 season:

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On the surface, Jokic seems the conqueror here with the higher points, assists, and steals averages, but closer inspection shows Giannis as the better caretaker (3.4 vs. 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio) to go along with his superior board work, rim protection, and plus/minus numbers. And, of course, when the lights are at their absolute brightest, both of these dudes come through (see Finals, NBA—where, as great as Jokic was, Giannis was even better).

In all, while Jokic takes the flowers in analytics—a testament to his otherworldly abilities as an offensive engine—Giannis’ longevity, defensive impact, and ability to rise to the moment, both as a play finisher and obliterator, cannot be overlooked (ask CP3, Ayton, Capela, etc.).

Advantage: a razor’s edge.

Head-to-head​

Despite playing 10 and 12 years respectively, Jokic and Giannis have played each other just 16 times. In those matchups, their numbers are eerily similar (per Stathead):

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Ultimately, there’s nothing new in this—Giannis again edges Jokic in points and blocks, while Jokic again has Giannis’ measure in assists and shooting efficiency. So, with such similar head-to-head statistical outputs, it’s hard to argue anything other than wins really matter here (even if Giannis has claimed the last two games they’ve played).

Advantage: Jokic.

Season outlook​

Looking ahead, the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks are set to face one another in January for both of their 2025–26 season matchups—one on the 11th (in Denver) and the other on the 23rd (in Milwaukee). Of course, both teams will look completely different from even last year’s iterations, with the Bucks making arguably the most shocking moves of the offseason, and many pundits proclaiming the Nuggets as the overall winners of the offseason.

Let’s recap. The Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick for longtime apple of Bucks fans’ eyes Cameron Johnson, reacquired championship role player Bruce Brown to replace Russell Westbrook, signed gunner Tim Hardaway Jr., and strengthened perhaps their biggest weakness—a backup for Jokic—by trading Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas. In brief, they are primed for a title push.

As you’re all well aware, the Bucks also made waves with the Myles Turner/Damian Lillard transactions and signings of Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (to go along with the re-signings of several key players and losses of franchise staples Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton).

So, with both sides revamped—and a little help for the Bucks with the Eastern Conference being as wide open as it ever has been—the 2025–26 season offers a natural resolution to this battle for basketball supremacy. Enter, playoffs. Yes, this epic warrants nothing less than an NBA Finals showdown. Jokic, Giannis, it’s on you—make it happen.

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Back at the summit, the fracas has arrived. The titans meet, their force splitting the ground, tearing earth like a bone saw through flesh, lava spewing violently into the ether, pyroclastic flow engulfing everything in its path. Through the smoke, a silhouette: a carcass, a figure standing—fist skyward.

This is the story of The Joker and The Freak in the night.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...comparison-giannis-antetokounmpo-nikola-jokic