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[Milwaukee Bucks]

Monta Ellis: A void that throws sparks

First, there was the sound. The metallic, bone-vibrating ring of the backboard, and only then the picture: the ball falling through the net while Toyota Center turns into an aquarium of school fish, all eyes wide, all asking if this is possible. Rockets disarmed at the buzzer. Milwaukee wins 110–107. And Monta Ellis, the one who guaranteed chaos like an old lawn mower, lets go a shot from near half court that should die in the air, but instead suddenly grows wings. That night “have it all” did not sound like a meme but like a sentence carried out: 27 points, 13 assists, six rebounds, six steals, plus that ridiculous, lucky three in a season where his threes scarcely fell at all. Pure Hero Ball. A small miracle in high-top shoes. Also, a warning: this would be basketball on the knife’s edge, where there is more blood than fireworks.

The day Milwaukee bought a dream​

I remember 13 March 2012 as the countdown to the birth of my first child. Every day a mark on the calendar, every night a breath held a little shorter, waiting for his arrival. And somewhere in the background, Monta Ellis Hero Ball tried to steal his thunder. For one second, I was a kid watching his Oakland highlights: a light, lightning-quick guard taking 20–30 points as if he were picking apples. The imagination goes dancing: green jersey, drives to the rim like a blade, pull-ups that stop time.

Only later comes the bill: the Bucks traded Andrew Bogut to get him. Their one true pillar, and guardian of the rim. Instead of concrete, we got flash. Ekpe Udoh arrived in the package, a favourite of calculators and defensive models, but without that spark in the eye that decides if you order five more shots of vodka at 5 a.m. or not. Senator Herb Kohl wanted a star and playoffs “right now.” He received fireworks and gasoline. So, what could go wrong?

Monta didn’t so much enter Milwaukee as burst in, like a Polish wedding guest after three vodkas too many: loud, colourful, smelling of smoke and fried kiełbasa, promising that this night will be remembered. People suddenly whispered: “the first perimeter player like this since Ray.” They pulled out his Warriors numbers like a bottle of cheap champagne at the village store, and right next to them came the cold, sober voice: one of the most heavily criticized by advanced stats in the league; a king of empty points who clings to the ball like an uncle to his last shot of Żubrówka. A true shooting of 53.6% on a star’s volume was neither a toast to glory nor a shameful hangover (editor’s note: league average TS% in 2010–11 was 54.1%). Something in between, like a party that ends with both laughter and broken glass.

At the end of 2011–12, Milwaukee chased the eighth seed, and Monta, in 21 games, poured in his share, on efficiency that creaked like floorboards in an old house. 43.2% from the field, and the feeling that it could come undone at any time. Brandon Jennings still played first violin in deciding moments because Monta was still hanging his posters in the locker room. Yet summer brought a modest optimism to the city, a smell like fresh paint on a fence: two guards who “simply get points.” They Just Get Buckets. It sounds immortal. On paper.

Every shot a middle finger to mathematics​

There was only one full season: 2012–13, and it was enough to establish the ritual. Monta catches the ball, and the world slows down; no system, he goes solo. The league runs toward threes and layups, and he chooses the mid-range like a man coming back to his old district and saying: here I learned how to live. Isolation. One-leg fadeaway, defender carried on the back like a school backpack, ten static dribbles, only to catch a breath of fresh air. Analysts pull their hair; sometimes we do too. Because when it does not fall (and as you remember, it does not fall more often than we wish), the possession evaporates, leaving that sound: the rim struck like the wrong gong in the wrong temple.

But when he makes it… kurde, when he makes it, he is electricity from a nuclear plant. March 2013 in Orlando: 25 points in the fourth, 39 in total, Bucks erase a 12-point deficit in six minutes, and Monta takes the game like a pickpocket takes a tourist’s wallet. It was a Monta show. Proof there is an alternate universe in which this style functions.

The problem? In our universe, it functioned rarely. So the Bucks’ offense was like an old television: snow, then picture, then a shout, then a blackout. And I say this as someone who still watches films on VHS from the 80s and 90s. Trust me, the screen jumping or the sound crackling is not something one misses, even with all the nostalgia. Monta was fourth in pace, 21st on offense. Gas pressed, engine coughing (and here, ladies and gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to introduce you to a Polish engineering masterpiece: Polonez). The Ellis–Jennings duet loved to score and hated to count. Few free throws, average efficiency. The advanced metrics turned Monta into a sieve: impact numbers buried him in the long middle of the league, while Bogut sat among the top names for helping teams win. Mathematics does not always tell the truth about a person, but it whispers about a team: you are on a treadmill. You run and stay in place.

If there was a handbook “how not to run an efficient offense,” Monta used it to stabilise a shaky table leg:

• Set play? Why, if you can pull from nine metres after five seconds, “just because?”
• The clock ticks? It is the signal to dribble in place and fire a step-back into a hand.
• A teammate waves, “I am open!” Monta drives into three bodies, betting gravity will change its rules.
• Miss or turnover? Arms up, a conversation with the referee who is studying his own shoes,
• And sometimes, because destiny must balance, he nails it. The arena explodes. We forgive. Until the next trip down.

There was a short episode when we believed in the “repaired” version. Late February to early March 2013, J.J. Redick arrives, defenses stretch like chewing gum, Monta cuts to the rim and chooses more reasonable shots. Around 50% true shooting, which was respectable for him. He even tells microphones he took too many jumpers and now he is “smarter.” It lasted like March snow. Nature returned. The fadeaway again tasted like warm beer on a hot day after a 3v3 streetball tournament: full of expectation, but in the end, only flat, bitter, and leaving you thirstier than before.

Monta Ellis have it all​

There is something of a street Jehovah’s Witness in him: standing on a crate, speaking of salvation, and you realise half is myth, half is faith that you cannot help but respect. In December 2012, after a fresh win over the Heat, someone asked about a comparison to Dwyane Wade. Monta looks calm and says they are the same tier; the difference is two rings and more victories. He finishes: “Monta Ellis have it all.” Third person. In a league where memes travel faster than fast breaks, this sentence receives its own passport. The internet rubs its hands. And we only smile. Crookedly. Especially because at that exact time, the league names him Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Ego peels off the ceiling; reality brings a ladder: bad news, Mr. Ellis, the ceiling is lower than it looks.

It was not his first conflict with gravity. With the Warriors in 2009, he said loudly that playing next to Curry “cannot work,” since two small guards will not win in a league full of tall twos. Three years later, he lands in Milwaukee and… plays with another small guard. A prophet forced to swallow his own prophecy. Life likes the grotesque. Yet in the locker room, he was not “bad.” More—from what I have read—an eccentric. The same one who, in 2008, wrecked his ankle on a motor scooter and then tried to sell the club a story about a basketball injury. Suspension, shame, and a tale you later tell over beer as a joke. That was him. He stubbornly believed that talent is a debtor who will one day pay everything back.

With the Mavericks in December 2014, he returned to Milwaukee and again pushed a buzzer-beater into our ribs. On my website, I wrote then four words that beat like drums: Monta. Has. It. All. Wade cried while he watched. It was an epoch where cynicism and fascination walked hand in hand.

Bucks in 6 and a cold shower​

Logic said one thing, the heart another, but the standings were the loudest. In 2013, they finished 38–44, sliding into eighth. The reward was the Miami Heat. Brandon Jennings goes to the cameras like a boxer to the weigh-in and says, “Bucks in six,” and the world holds back a laugh. The rest writes itself: LeBron, Wade, Miami like a road roller. 4–0, with no scheduled pauses for illusions. In one game, Brandon and Monta together manage fifteen points on 5/22 shooting. The famous “in six” stays with us, first as irony, later as a chant. This city likes old words with new meaning.

After that series, there was nothing left to collect. In summer 2013, Monta chose the emergency exit, declined an extension, and went to Dallas. Jennings packs for Detroit. The illusion folds like a balloon. And to be fair, with the Mavs, Monta revived a little. Rick Carlisle, the surgeon who tames chaos, and Dirk Nowitzki gave him space where he could run without stepping on his own feet. About 19 points, more than five assists, playoffs. Not “have it all,” but “have enough.” A good B-movie you like when it runs late on a Sunday.

In 2015, the Indiana Pacers signed a cheque and hoped to write a new ending. But the league is already moving forward: corner threes, spacing, switch-everything, decisions in half a second. Without a dependable three and without the old first step, Monta becomes a vinyl record in the streaming era: beautiful, but with too loud a crackle. Two average seasons, the bench, silence. Thirty not even fully behind him, and suddenly: finished. He tried to return. He tried. The void did not release him.

What we learned​

The Monta episode in Milwaukee is a warning carried in a paper bag. It teaches that building around flashy and inefficient scorers is a recipe for the eternal carousel of nausea. 2012–13 was the treadmill: you run, you burn calories, you stay in place. A year later: rock bottom, fifteen wins. You touch cold silt and finally push up. And yes, the team did bounce back. But before that, the chaotic time gave us memes, a language, a cynical tenderness. “Bucks in 6,” spoken with a smile through clenched teeth, returned years later like a comet, not as a joke. And “Monta Ellis have it all”? It stayed as a road sign: beware of the void. It pulls.

Monta, the hero of his own fairy tales, was for a short while also a hero of Milwaukee, as much as one can be while playing against mathematics and time. He left behind hundreds of missed fadeaways, a few shots you cannot forget, and a lesson: sometimes it is better to trust gravity, even if for a moment you can walk on the ceiling.

What remains in the head is that sound:

Backboard.

Metal.

The loud thud of an airball, echoing through the silent arena like a stone dropped into an empty well.

And the silence after the buzzer. You are familiar with this silence: the short, dense one, when you know a miracle does not change physics. It only deceives them for a moment.

Dziękuję.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-features-profiles/51161/monta-ellis-have-it-all-milwaukee-bucks

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Terms of endearment: Bucks nicknames power rankings

You can’t put your finger on it, don’t know when the sounds last left your lips, but you know it to be true: you do not speak your best friend’s name. Not really. Broaden this to anyone you met through sport? Fuhgedabowdit—chances are you don’t even know some of their real names.

It may be paradoxical, but the truth is indeed universal: our names—the first markers of our identities—are of least importance to those we hold closest. Etymologically, “nickname” comes from “ekename,” a compound word meaning additional name, which became “nekename,” through misdivision. You can put together the rest from there. In professional sports, earning a nickname that fans know you by is a neon sign that lights up the night, flashing for all to read: mama, I made it.

With a rich history in nicknames—think “Big Dog,” “Turkish Thunder,” and “Splash Mountain,” among many others—and with the 2025–26 season knocking on the door, it’s time to (re)familiarise ourselves with the current Milwaukee Bucks’ handles. Just how good is their name game? Let’s take a look.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo—The Greek Freak​

Rhyme? Check. Nod to heritage? Check. Commentary on gameplay? Check. This one ticks all the boxes and will be uttered for as long as the NBA remains in human consciousness—Giannis is that great. From his signature shoes to the fact that he’s trademarked the name, it’s clear Giannis embraces it too.

“I just went on the court one day, and I had like a crazy dunk or a crazy block, and after that, everyone started calling me The Greek Freak. So it stuck by me, I love it, and it’s a cool nickname,” he said in a 2020 appearance on Capture Sports Marketing’s Athletes Doing Good Radiothon on ESPN.

The moniker may have lost some of its sting, but that’s only because Giannis, in the ways only he can, has evolved beyond a mere “Freak.” It’s too bad Rick James sexualised “Super Freak” so much (though I don’t think Giannis would mind). Either way, “The Greek Freak” remains an iconic nickname for an iconic player, claiming the rightful number one place on this list.

Grade: A​

2. AJ Green—Dairy Bird/AJ Automatic​

While a true reflection of his shooting prowess, “AJ Automatic” has never quite felt right, no matter how hard Lisa Byington tries (editor’s note: I always wish we’d tried AJ Greenlight too). Thankfully, “Dairy Bird” does. Paying homage to Wisconsin’s status as “America’s Dairyland” and all-time great Larry Bird’s shooting form and accuracy, “Dairy Bird” is just fun. It both compliments and mocks—like any really good nickname should. It also doesn’t hurt that Green looks like he’s straight from the farm. With Green’s recent 4-year, $45m contract extension, new starting role, and high-flying antics, perhaps there are layers of bird symbolism as well (okay, too much, I know).

Grade: A​

3. Bobby Portis—The Mayor of Milwaukee/Crazy Eyes/Bobby Buckets​

Portis collects nicknames like he does shot attempts. And like those attempts, some are better than others. “Crazy Eyes” speaks for itself and attests to Portis’ combative energy, but lacks any real flair, while “Bobby Buckets” is improved—both alliterative and apt for his game as a bench gunner. But the cream of the crop is “The Mayor of Milwaukee.” Portis brings the vibes like no other and will forever have the keys to MKE—and Bucks fans’ hearts.

Grade: A-​

4. Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony—T-Shirt Twins/Mosquito Fleet​

In the absence of individual nicknames, Anthony and Rollins’ preseason play has presented the rare opportunity for a collaboration—an honour usually reserved for iconic duos (think “The Twin Towers” and “The Splash Brothers”).

Their matching on-court accessories led to Locked on Bucks’ Camille Davis dubbing them the “T-Shirt Twins,” while Brew Hoop’s own Jack Trehearne coined “Mosquito Fleet” in reference to their preseason—I hear Clyde Frazier’s voice—synergy and tenacity. Both pop, but it’s the latter that’s elite.

Grade: A-​

5. Thanasis Antetokounmpo—Thanasty​

Every now and then, Thanasis will do something that makes you jump out of your chair—a putback dunk, a shammgod, a monster block—that highlights just why the wordplay of “Thanasty” works. Of course, too often it works the other way too, where his play is nasty in the literal sense of the word. All things considered, “Thanasty” is actually quite apt.

Grade: B​

6. Jericho Sims—Jumpman​

With Damian Lillard out of town, Sims might have more luck getting “Jumpman” to stick. Yes, it belongs to Michael Jordan—and Sims isn’t even in the same stratosphere as a player—but if there’s one thing he can go chest-to-chest with against anyone, it’s hops. Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman… yeah, they’re definitely up to something with that.

Grade: B-​

7. Kevin Porter Jr.—Scooter/Sakuta​

Porter’s nickname has been around nearly as long as he has. As reported by the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathon Feigen, Porter explained that his auntie gave him the nickname because of the way he first moved: “I didn’t crawl when I was little. I kind of scooted on my back. She called me ‘Scooter.’”

The name has since evolved into “Sakuta,” the Japanese version of the word—and Porter’s preferred version—though you’ll frequently hear coaches and teammates refer to him as “Scoot.” Overall, it gets points for longevity, and the Japanese variant adds some edge, but ultimately it lacks the hoops connection to really leave a mark.

Grade: C+​

8. Andre Jackson Jr.—Ajax/Action Jackson​

The portmanteau “Ajax” rolls off the tongue but would land better as an allusion to the household cleaning brand if Jackson were (1) a household name and (2) a renowned rebounder. “Action Jackson”—a popular 1970s action figurine and 1988 action film—is an improved nickname for the third-year wing, speaking to Jackson’s frenetic play. However, it’s more a name of convenience than substance—for all of Jackson’s action, there’s very little that actually happens.

Grade: C​

9. Amir Coffey—The Folgers Soldier​

Unofficially, Coffey was dubbed “The Folgers Soldier” while with the Clippers, and the pun works well enough, with the assonance making it snappy. Yet, there’s a reason it hasn’t really caught on. With reports that he’s made the Bucks’ final roster, Coffey offers commentators and fans alike the chance to coin a name tailor-made for the Cream City—can you imagine what Marques Johnson will come up with?

Grade: C​

10. Gary Harris—G-Money/Gary “Gary Harris” Harris​

Harris’ nickname is “G-Money,” a combination of his first initial and penchant for accurate distance shooting, but it’s so trite it may as well not exist. In fact, there was a long-running joke about Harris’ lack of a real nickname, leading to the viral “Gary ‘Gary Harris’ Harris” moniker. This is fun and, at this stage of Harris’ career, likely the best he’ll get.

Grade: C-​

11. Myles Turner—Samurai Myles​

Basketball Reference lists “Samurai Myles” as Turner’s moniker, and there is memorabilia out there somewhere, but if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard someone say it, I’d be a very poor man—it’s safe to say you have to be a Pacers sicko for it to be part of your vernacular. Stemming from his hairstyle change years ago, the name’s got some style to it, but it doesn’t really speak to his game, and unsurprisingly, flamed out in Indiana. A change in scenery warrants something fresh and decisive—just like his game.

Grade: D​

12. Taurean Prince—TP​

Initials can make for creative nicknames, but there’s got to be at least some level of layering to them. Unfortunately, “TP” is as generic as they come. Considering Prince is most valuable as a range shooter—he finished third in the league in three-point accuracy last year at 43.9%—the “TP for three” rhyme improves this somewhat, giving it a modicum of panache, but “AK-47” it is not. If only “Chamillionaire” had stuck instead.

Grade: D-​

13. Kyle Kuzma—Kuz​

Let’s call a spade a spade: abbreviations are the layman’s nicknames, not the stuff of elite athletes—let alone ones with Kuz’s (oops), err… eccentricities. But after last year’s postseason and with Kuzma at the top of every Bucks fan’s offseason trade list, perhaps it is best to stick with “Kuz,” at least for the time being.

Grade: F​

14. Gary Trent Jr.​

Not much to see here, folks. As the third-ranked player on this Bucks squad, Trent deserves better. He comes from great nickname lineage too—you should remember Gary Trent Sr. as “Shaq of the MAC” for his dominance at Ohio University where he was a three-time MAC Player of the Year. Let’s get something done.

Grade: Incomplete​

15. Tyler Smith​

Nicknames are the last thing on Tyler Smith’s mind, with the sophomore missing out on one of the team’s final roster spots. Should he nab a role elsewhere and the silhouette—a sniper with size—gets filled out, a handle is sure to follow (editor’s note: didn’t some call him Smitty?). All the best, Tyler.

Grade: Incomplete​

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How would you do the rankings? Customise your order below, then jump to the comments to share your thoughts—and why your handle is what it is.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-feat...ee-bucks-player-nicknames-power-rankings-2025

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks expected to waive Tyler Smith; Andre Jackson Jr. and Amir Coffey make roster

After the Milwaukee Bucks had opted to cut former second-round pick Chris Livingston, they were down to 16 players on the roster who had fully or partially guaranteed deals. That left Andre Jackson Jr., Tyler Smith, and Amir Coffey to duke it out for the final two available slots. It appears that a decision has been made, as according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Bucks have opted to cut Smith, presumably keeping Jackson and Coffey.

While the Bucks technically have until Monday to get down to 15 contracted players, today was the last day they could’ve cut someone who was on a partially (like Jackson) or fully guaranteed contract (like Smith) and not have the rest of their contract count against the cap. In this case, Jackson only had $800k of his $2.2m salary for this season guaranteed up until opening night on Wednesday. Siegel notes that Jackson was a Doc Rivers favorite, so with Smith having a $2m salary for this season, they opted to keep the player they presumably like more, and save a little over $500k in the process. This was also the last guaranteed year for Smith, meaning the Bucks will only have to pay out his salary for this season.

As for Coffey, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirms that he’ll make the roster. Coffey came to the Bucks on an Exhibit 9 contract during the offseason, and he’ll have his contract converted to a standard one-year veteran’s minimum for opening night, once the cut of Smith is made official. Exhibit 9 contracts are non-guaranteed, so if the Bucks want to move on from Coffey, they can waive him before the league-wide guarantee date of January 10 and remove his cap hit from their books.

This is an unfortunate end for Smith, who was drafted in the second round of the 2024 draft at no. 33 overall. With this move, both players from the 2024 Bucks draft class are gone, as Milwaukee shipped out first-round pick AJ Johnson to the Wizards in the Kyle Kuzma trade. Smith didn’t get a chance to play a lot with a veteran roster, especially in the front court with Giannis, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Kuzma, and the midseason addition of Jericho Sims. All told, Smith played in just 23 games with the Bucks, playing 5.3 minutes per contest and scoring a grand total of 67 points. Smith joins another former G-League Ignite player the Bucks have drafted that didn’t work out, with MarJon Beauchamp currently sitting in camp with the Sixers after he was traded to the Clippers in the Kevin Porter Jr. trade.

Barring any unforeseen move yet to come from Milwaukee’s front office, this looks to be the construction of the 15-man roster heading into the season opener on Wednesday against Washington.

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

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks attempted to trade Tyler Smith, ended up waiving him

On Saturday, Jackson wrote about how Tyler Smith was reported to be the final cut from Milwaukee’s 15-man roster, which needs to be finalized in just under a half hour. Earlier today, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype mentioned that this weekend, the Bucks “gauged the trade market on Smith” but have yet to find any interested parties. The 33rd overall selection of the 2024 NBA Draft only appearned in 23 games last season and will most certainly have to establish himself as an NBA player elsewhere.

Keith Smith of Spotrac mentioned that this is an example of “why teams exhaust trade possibilities before simply eating contracts,“ but the cost of simply waiving Smith won’t be onerous to Milwaukee. He’s in the second year of a four-year, minimum contract with just under $2.0m due his way in guaranteed money, but his third and fourth years are non-guaranteed. That means if the Bucks do waive him today, they’ll only have to pay him his 2025–26 salary and no more. While it’s possible a team will make a claim on him since Smith earns less than the minimum salary for a player with one year experience, more likely teams will not want to use a roster spot on him if they aren’t interested in trading for him outright. He seems like a better candidate for a two-way deal if and when he hits the market.

If somehow the Bucks are able to find a trade partner, I expect very little will come back in the deal. I’m skeptical a team would give up even a top-55 protected second round pick for a borderline guy like Smith, and more likely if he is traded, the Bucks would get only cash considerations. Even if they do have to eat Smith’s deal, they’ll have nearly $14m in breathing room beneath the luxury tax (more if Amir Coffey is waived before January) so this would not be a financially prohibitive move.

UPDATE: Scotto reports that Smith has officially been waived as the Bucks could not find a trading partner.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-rumors/52793/nba-trade-rumors-milwaukee-bucks-tyler-smith

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks sign two Wisconsin Herd players to Exhibit 10 deals

NBA preseason always involves a flurry of Exhibit 10 signings across the league. The Bucks got in on the action today, inking non-guaranteed deals with John Butler Jr. and Stephen “Stevie” Thompson Jr., who both spent the 2024–25 season with the Wisconsin Herd.

Typically, signings like this end with the players getting waived within the following day. That’s likely the fate Butler and Thompson will face. Why? Exhibit 10 deals allow teams to claim prospects for their G League affiliates by offering bonuses for the players. If Thompson and Butler return to the Herd and stay with the team for 60 days, they’ll receive a bonus check up to $85k. With these signings, Milwaukee is taking care of their minor league guys and nudging them to stay in-house to continue their development in the Bucks system.

Thompson was a key member of the Herd last year, averaging 14.1 PPG in 48 games. Butler, who spent time with the Trail Blazers in 2022–23, is a 22-year-old seven-footer with floor spacing capabilities. Both guys are eligible for two-way contracts, but are questionable NBA prospects at this point in time. Butler has height, but he weighs in at a frail 190 pounds and desperately needs to hit the weight room if he’s ever going to hold up against NBA physicality. Thompson can hardly be called a prospect, as he’s already 28 years old. Pete Nance and Mark Sears are clearly better options for a two-way, and we all know Alex Antetokounmpo won’t be losing his spot anytime soon.

Assuming Thompson and Butler are released, they’ll be joining fellow Exhibit 10 waivee Cormac Ryan on Wisconsin’s roster for the 2025–26 season. The Herd also own the returning rights to some intriguing names, including former Buck Lindell Wigginton, 2020 lottery pick Kira Lewis Jr., and University of Wisconsin alumni Johnny Davis and Aleem Ford.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-free...a-g-league-stephen-thompson-jr-john-butler-jr

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks open season with no injuries

For the first time in what feels like forever, the Milwaukee Bucks enter the regular season with a clean sheet on the injury report, heading into their season opener tomorrow night against the Washington Wizards. Meanwhile, the Wizards will be without their French swingman, Bilal Coulibaly, who is recovering from right-hand surgery, while rookie Will Riley is questionable with a right ankle sprain.

It’s good to see for the Bucks, especially as Jon Horst mentioned during media day that several players had end-of-season surgeries. Horst did say at that time that none of those surgeries would hold anyone out of training camp or the start of the regular season, but it’s still a major positive. During the midst of camp, Gary Harris and Cole Anthony were dealing with minor injuries. Harris was dealing with a hamstring issue, while Anthony had to get stitches on his chin after colliding with an opponent during Milwaukee’s preseason opener against the Miami Heat. Considering the bad injury luck the Bucks have had over the last couple of seasons, it certainly is a welcome change for the team in hunter green.

Tip-off between the Bucks and Wizards is set for 7 p.m. CDT from Fiserv Forum. I’ll be on site, bringing you coverage pregame, during the game, and then after the game. You can watch it on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and listen to it on 620/103.3 WTMJ.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-inju...ee-bucks-nba-injury-report-washington-wizards

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Roundtable: 2025–26 Milwaukee Bucks predictions

Welcome back to yet another year of the Brew Hoop Round Table, where we ask that everybody use coasters and please don’t feed the aging pugs from the table, thanks. At long last, it’s time for Milwaukee Bucks basketball! As is custom around these parts, we gather for our yearly Opening Night roundtable and put our prognosticator caps on. Won’t you join us?

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Bucks 2025–26 Record, Seed, and Playoff Performance​

Morgan: I refuse to countenance the Bucks in the play-in, so 6th it is. In that place last year was the Pistons at 44-38, which feels low, so I’ll generously bump that up to 45-37. Still, I remain optimistic that the Bucks can take out a three seed in a playoff series, so I’ll give them a series in six before bowing out in the conference semis.

Finn: Avoiding the play-in and cracking the top six should be the unwavering expectation this year. I see Milwaukee winning 46–48 games, finishing sixth in the East, but then falling short in a competitive first-round battle against the Hawks or the Magic.

Jack: Give me fifth in the East, winning 47 games. I do believe this team can not only make it out of the first round but also play a really competitive second-round series.

Drew: I see the team winning somewhere between 45 and 50 games this season. The main goal should be staying out of the play-in, and I think if they’re somewhere in this range, they’ll find themselves as the five or six seed in the East. Depending on the matchup in that first round, a first-round series win is a realistic goal for this team, I think.

Jackson: I’ll put them at 48-34, taking the fourth seed in the East. I have Cleveland, New York, and Orlando ahead of the Bucks. While the Atlanta Hawks have a lot of buzz after the offseason they just had and the potential of the Detroit Pistons to take another step, the Bucks still have the best player in the conference.

Van: I have them fourth at 47-35. I don’t think the East has more than three 50-win teams, and I think Milwaukee is in the same mix as Atlanta and Detroit. I’ll say they tie in the standings with the Pistons, get the tiebreaker over them, and finish one game ahead of the Hawks. They’ll take out Detroit in round one before losing to New York in the second round, but I think they’ll give them a run for their money: with Myles Turner in the fold, I think Milwaukee matches up with KAT and co. much better; no regular-season sweep this season.

Zac: I’m a believer in this team, but if Giannis misses any time, this iteration of the Bucks will struggle to rack up wins. Considering he typically misses 10–15 games, that’s quite a handicap to overcome. 45–37 seems about right, good for fifth in a logjam of teams behind Cleveland, New York, Orlando, and Detroit. In the playoffs, they’ll steal one on the road and hold serve to win in six—you know, for the culture—before falling short in the second round.

Nate: Based on some promising preseason flashes, which include Doc installing a faster, more active playstyle better suited to this team and some exciting new pairings (Cole Anthony and Ryan Rollins), I’m actually slightly more optimistic than my original pick of the six seed. I’m now going with a five seed, 47 wins, and a second-round exit. I find it too hard to pick against a Giannis-led team against any of the four seeds the Bucks would likely play (Detroit, Orlando, Atlanta). That said, my biggest concern with this team remains perimeter defense, and talented guards will still present a huge problem.

Kyle: There is a wide variance because the East is not strong this year. I’ll give them 45 wins and a five seed, and they will win the first round before falling to Cleveland/New York.

Offensive/Defensive League Ranking​

Morgan: I’ve crunched the numbers to account for slight regression overall while rebalancing toward defense. The result is 14th on offense and 12th on defense. Woof. I’ll stick to that, but I’m hoping for more improvement defensively and a Giannis-led offense to perform better than mid-table!

Finn: If everything clicks for this team, they could be a top-five offense in the regular season. I love the fit of this roster around Giannis. They’re going to pummel teams with three-point barrages at times, but there will be some rough spells too. I’d ultimately predict the Bucks finish eighth in offense and a respectable-but-not-intimidating 15th in defense.

Jack: I happen to love the mix with this year’s team, and think their defence being better will allow them to get back to scoring on the fastbreak (like they did in the Bud years). On offence, I expect them to finish around 12th. On defence, let’s go with 9th.

Drew: I think the team will be middle of the pack defensively—serviceable, but not excelling on that end consistently. To give it a number, I’ll say 14th. Offensively, I love the fit around Giannis and think this could be a very good offensive team. To be optimistic and realistic, I’ll go with 10th on that end.

Jackson: I think the Bucks will have some early struggles on offense, which will drag down the offense a bit before they find their stride. By season’s end, I think they can be anywhere from the 12–16 range in terms of offensive rating. Defense, on the other hand, I am very high on. I think they have a chance to be top-10 or even top-eight on that end of the floor, with the new frontcourt of Giannis and Myles Turner.

Van: I think both are above-average units, but I don’t see either finishing inside the top 10. In recent years, teams around 12th in defensive rating tend to finish with an upper-40s win total, so long as their offense is around league-average, which is where I expect the Bucks to be. Similar to Morgan, I’ll say 14th on offense and 11th on defense.

Zac: Last year, the Bucks finished 10th in offensive rating and 12th in defensive rating. Prior to the preseason—and I know I shouldn’t put any stock in that—I would have argued the defensive rating would improve while the offensive rating would slip. Now, I’m concerned about the defence’s ability to handle bigger ballhandlers, play without fouling, and to a lesser extent, how engaged Giannis will be on that end of the floor. On the flip side, I think the increased three-point volume to complement Giannis’ rim assaults bodes really well for the offence. Let’s go 8th in offensive rating and 12th in defensive rating—unless Giannis gets back to his All-Defensive team form.

Nate: After the preseason, I had the same thoughts as Zac above: so far, my offense/defense expectations have been inverted. In theory, with two super-talented rim protectors, the Bucks should be able to defend in a style not unlike the Cavs or Thunder, but those teams still have top-tier perimeter defenders, and the Bucks, well… their perimeter D is unproven at best. I expect them to be middle of the pack again, with slightly more potential for the offense if they continue to shoot threes at a high clip on more attempts. I’ll go 10th in O, 13th in D.

Kyle: The offense is going to be more reliant on shooters this season, and yes, AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Bobby Portis, and Myles Turner can make those shots at a good clip. But I do worry there will be stretches where the shot doesn’t fall and there isn’t much of a plan B outside of Giannis doing everything. I will put them 16th in offense. I expect the defense to be better with the squad being more athletic. I don’t think they will be top 10, but a respectable 12th would be good.

Will Doc Rivers or Jon Horst be thought of as on the hot seat this year, or are they already?

Morgan: Doc should be on the hot seat as a lovely gentleman, but an ultimately milquetoast coach. Without the “first full year at the helm” card in his hand, I expect him to be on the hot seat when the Bucks have a decent but ultimately underwhelming year, given the expectations of having Giannis on the roster. I don’t view Horst as on the hot seat and doubt that the course of this season will change that. He can play the “first full year without Khris” card, and will only be in trouble next year when Kuz has not been magically parlayed into a legitimate third banana.

Finn: Doc has been on the hot seat with fans for well over a calendar year now. His limitations as a coach are well-documented, and if he once again fails to maximize a Giannis-led roster, a change in sideline management could once again be in order. Horst, though, is safe.

Jack: I think Doc is on the hot seat because firing him is the easiest move to make. With Horst, I just don’t see it; maybe if he whiffs on another draft pick next year…

Drew: I am also of the opinion that Horst is safe. While this is not a championship-level roster for Doc to work with, he’s got a top player in the world and a roster that fits well around him. The fans have had Doc on the hot seat for a while, and I think if the team struggles out of the gate with a roster I feel should be a good, conversations will need to be had.

Jackson: Horst already has had some of the heat taken off of him after getting his contract extension, so I have no worries about him anytime soon. The one who could get a fire lit underneath him is Doc Rivers. Most people gave him a pass for his first year and a half coaching the team, taking over in the middle of the 2023–24 season and 2024–25 being his first full year. While there are a bunch of moving parts to this team and it doesn’t have the same star power as previous years, this is where Doc has to prove his mettle as a coach. If he can bring this team close to 48 wins, then I think he’ll be safe.

Van: I don’t think Horst will be at all this year, because I think he and the ownership are aligned on making a big roster upgrade next summer, if not sooner. But Doc, whose contract runs until summer 2027, will probably not get an extension unless the Bucks make a deep postseason run. Teams tend not to keep lame-duck coaches in the final years of their deals. Since I don’t see the Bucks making the NBA Finals, I think they will cut bait after they’re eliminated. Does that mean he’s on the hot seat? I guess so.

Zac: Having signed a multi-year contract extension in April, it’s hard to see Horst on the hot seat, especially considering how creative he’s been in revitalising this team when all seemed lost. Having said this, in the worst-case situation that Giannis does ask out, Horst’s seat will be as hot as it gets—make the wrong call and it’s back to the dark ages. For Doc, it all comes down to how the team starts. He’ll be lauded if the Bucks exceed expectations early, but if they’re anything close to last year’s 2-8 start, he’ll need to call the fire brigade.

Nate: For better or worse, we’ve seen a trend of even very recently successful coaches and GMs getting canned. And relative to expectation, the Bucks haven’t exactly been successful as of late. But I think Horst’s value to ownership and the franchise is that he’s continually been able to retain the greatest player to ever grace Milwaukee’s court. As long as he continues to do that, I assume he’s safe. Doc, on the other hand, will need to achieve with this version of the team to stick around. If they look good and, say, get to the second round, he’ll go for another run at the ‘chip. But if the Bucks are a middling team, I think he will want out anyway.

Kyle: Both of them should be on the hot seat. The Bucks moved on from Mike Budenholzer for not making it out of the first round, and Doc now has two playoff series where Milwaukee was knocked out round one. We do need to look at Jon Horst’s lack of success in the draft along with some questionable trades. Is this the guy who is best suited to put together a Bucks roster post Giannis? I’m not quite sure.

Will Giannis be on the team this time next year? Why or why not?​

Morgan: Yes. Giannis has clearly indicated his loyalty, vultures be Shamned.

Finn: I’m with Morgan here. Yep, Giannis will remain a Buck, and that shouldn’t need much explanation for those who don’t overreact to barely-credible rumors.

Jack: Ha! This isn’t going to be popular, but knowing what we know, I’d predict that Giannis is not on the team. I do think he’d prefer to win in Milwaukee, but I struggle to see how even a big trade gets the Bucks to the level of the NBA’s best teams (and also, that attempting a Hail Mary could severely hamstring the franchise for the better part of the next decade). There is too much smoke for there not to be at least a bit of fire with respect to recent reporting. Having said this, I’d be happy to be wrong. I’m in the business of this team competing for ‘chips, not being average and “in the middle” (AKA the worst spot to be in pro sports). If they can achieve the former, I’m all in, but that’s a huge ask.

Drew: Yes, and I’m not going to give it any more attention.

Jackson: I’ve written about this so many times, and I think it’s silly that it has to be brought up because of the network that will not be named. Giannis will be a Buck until he retires from the NBA and heads back to Greece to play ball.

Van: Yes, because I believe that history will repeat itself a third time when Horst cashes in his three future first-round picks (and perhaps their most recently-drafted first from June’s draft) plus tens of millions in expiring salary next summer for Giannis’ new running mate. That will convince Giannis to extend yet again.

Zac: Giannis will be on the team this time next year. For one, it’s just so hard to trade a player of Giannis’ stature (and contract) in a way that works out for both teams. Should he want to move, he’d want to go to a contender, but any team in this position would deplete themselves by getting him. Secondly, Giannis has literally just witnessed how bad it can be when a star player leaves and longs for home. For a guy as loyal as Giannis, this has to hold weight. Need more? Giannis has admitted he cares about legacy, something chasing rings elsewhere actually hurts—he’ll want to go down like Duncan, Dirk, and Kobe. Speaking of which, this will be Giannis’ “Kobe 2005–06 season”—astronomical stats on a middling team—until Trader Jon strikes again in the offseason, giving the Bucks their Pau Gasol in preparation for a second title run.

Nate: I think he’ll be a Buck. A year from now, I expect Giannis to sign one more extension worth a lot more money than anyone else can give him, and then pack up and head to Greece after it’s through. After his next extension, might he take a one-year, team-friendly deal elsewhere to try and snag a final ring? Maybe, but I think he (as well as all of us) should be pretty optimistic about the Bucks’ roster potential in 2026–27 and 2027–28. When paired with a few hundred million dollars, that’s hopefully enough motivation to stick around.

Kyle: Sure, why not. I wouldn’t be surprised if next year is his last year in the NBA before going over to Greece

Who will win MVP, and where will Giannis finish in voting?​

Morgan: Like, probably Jokic, since SGA got his. They and their teams aren’t going anywhere, and I imagine a random dark horse will pass Giannis when the Bucks don’t set the East on fire, so I’ll go with fourth.

Finn: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will go back-to-back as the Thunder run through the West once again. Giannis will finish third with numbers and individual dominance too remarkable to overlook.

Jack: I reckon Giannis is in with a real shot this year. If he can get this team—you know, the one national analysts are often crapping on—then that proves his case right there. But ultimately, it feels like the Thunder will dominate, and SGA has the best chance at winning it. GA finishes third, I’ll say.

Drew: I’m going to side with Finn here and go with Shai since he’ll be a superstar for a team I expect to roll again this year. I think Giannis and Jokic will be second and third in voting, in which order I’m unsure of. I don’t think our guy gets it done, but he’ll safely be top three in my eyes.

Jackson: I’m going to go out on a limb with a dark horse candidate and say Luka Doncic is going to win MVP this season. LeBron is going to miss part of the season early on, and from every indication, Luka has been a man on a mission this offseason. In terms of where the rest of the contenders stack up, I think it goes Jokic at two, Giannis at three, and SGA at four. I could see a world where the Thunder win closer to 60 games or even below that mark, which would take his case down a few pegs, especially if the Nuggets, Lakers, and Rockets give them as much trouble as I think they will. Giannis is seemingly destined to be the bronze medalist in the MVP race.

Van: Voter fatigue is real, and I don’t think Denver will have a big enough year for Jokic’s fourth honors. Meanwhile, I think Giannis is primed for a career high in assists while also maintaining 30 PPG, plus continuing to shoot well from midrange. Since I see the Bucks surprising some people with how competitive they’ll be, voters will attribute that to one of Giannis’ best overall seasons. I’ll take him to get runner-up for the first time. I don’t think Doncic will win one as long as LeBron is still around, so it’s SGA’s to lose. But I think Anthony Edwards will be the one who might sneak in at third over Jokic.

Zac: Championship parity up, MVP parity down. There are only a handful of truly MVP-level players in the league, and only two of those—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic—have good enough squads to stack the wins needed for the award. Giannis will finish his customary third, while Jokic gets the hardware (yet again).

Nate: I really like the Ant pick, and while it’s certainly safest to assume some combination of Jokic, Shai, Giannis, and Luka comprises the top four, I’m going to go totally off the map and throw Cade Cunningham in the mix. Last year, he tied with Ant at seventh in the voting. He is 24, and if the Pistons get, say, the three seed in the East, he should be seriously considered. Last year, he averaged 26 PPG, 6 RPG, and 9 APG; if he ups that to 28, seven, and 10 while bringing a team from the 15 seed to the six seed to a top-three seed in just three years, that should be worth the nod.

Kyle: Edwards is going to lead Minnesota to a two seed in the West, and that will be enough for the voters to avoid giving Jokic, Giannis, and Shai another MVP. Giannis will likely finish fourth.

MVBNNG (Most Valuable Buck Not Named Giannis)​

Morgan: If Kevin Porter Jr. were a building, he would be a church in a sinkhole. There is a massive gulf between his floor and his ceiling, especially compared to his teammates. Coupled with the opportunity to spend major minutes at the helm of this team, KPJ is “valuable” in the sense that where he ends up between his floor and ceiling is arguably the key determining factor for the Bucks’ performance this season.

Finn: Boring answer, but Myles Turner. He’ll likely be looked at to be the second scorer for the Bucks most nights, and how well he can perform in multiple schemes defensively could make-or-break the team’s season.

Jack: I’m going with Turner. His impact on both ends will be felt in a major way, and I can’t wait to see what he does this season.

Drew: I’m also going to go KPJ. Like Finn said, Myles Turner will be the second scorer on most nights, but I think a backcourt player taking a big leap to be that primary ball handler who can initiate offense with and without Giannis will be the most important thing.

Jackson: I’m going to join Finn here on this one and say Myles Turner. There’s a reason they felt comfortable cutting Damian Lillard to bring him in. He needs to be their second-best player, with KPJ coming in third in that department.

Van: It’s gotta be Turner, right? I don’t think he’ll be the second-leading scorer on this team, or even necessarily be the second option this year at all, but based on how they’ve used him in the preseason, the Bucks should be at their best when he’s on the floor. Even when Giannis sits, the pairing with Portis looked functional too.

Zac: KPJ is the guy for me. He’ll have the ball in his hands, space in which to create, and more importantly, a roster that needs his skillset. I’m confident that KPJ’s run without Dame last year foreshadowed everything Horst has done this offseason. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: 2025–26 The Rebirth.

Nate: Safely, Myles Turner or KPJ. But I’m going to continue my odd picks and go with Gary Trent Jr. I think he’ll necessarily play a few more minutes per game this year, which will coordinate with a few more points per game (18 would be ideal, and right in line with his averages when he was closer to 30 MPG). I also think he’ll be their primary clutch scorer and guard the opponent’s best wing. He has a lot to play for this season, and I am going to take a swing and hope GTJ is up to the challenge.

Kyle: I agree with others and will choose Myles Turner. Milwaukee took a risk with their cap space, waiving Dame to bring him in, and he will have to fill a void left by Brook Lopez.

MIB (Most Improved Buck): Which Buck will take the biggest step forward?​

Morgan: Can I say Myles? My heart wants AJG or Rollins, but my head tells me that they’ve already taken huge steps forward. Turner has always been a good player, but I think that–hot take–he will blossom next to one of the best bigs ever.

Finn: This is Ryan Rollins’ year. He’s a budding defensive demon with plenty of room to grow on offense as well. The former two-way player’s potential is well-recognized by Bucks fans, and the larger role he should command will put him on national radars too.

Jack: I’ll go with Ryan Rollins. There is so clearly untapped playmaking ability there that is just waiting to be unleashed. After this season, nobody will be calling my guy “Ryan Hollins” or “Ryan Collins.”

Drew: I have to say Rollins as well. He got forced into the fire a bit last year with Dame injuries, and I think that this year he’ll find his footing again and settle into a more stable role off the bench, where he gets to play to his strengths.

Jackson: I’m going to carry water for my colleague Kyle and say AJ Green. The Bucks paid him a lot of money on his extension, so I imagine they see another step coming from him for this season. I think he could become a top-end role player if he adds a little bit more to his three-point shooting profile and progresses on the defensive end again.

Van: This comes down to Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. to me, because I think one of them will have a significant bump in production, even if they lose some efficiency due to their added volume. Someone has to replace what Dame was doing, and since I don’t think GTJ will quite reach his Toronto numbers, I think KPJ will look more like his final year in Houston, when he averaged 19.2 PPG on .442/.366/.784 in 59 games. I’m not saying he’ll get to those levels, but I see him improving to the tune of 16–17 PPG.

Zac: KPJ aside, Ryan Rollins has his name all over this. I simply can’t get Horst’s George Hill comparison out of my head—steady ballhandler, high-quality spot up shooter, elite defender. And he’s explosive too. With the additional long-term contract security and a clear role as part of the Bucks’ “Mosquito Fleet” off the bench, Rollins is oozing confidence and primed to make a leap. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him snag a few All-Defensive team votes.

Nate: Because of how solid he looked in preseason and how important steady ball-handlers will be to the Bucks, I’m going with Cole Anthony. Mostly out of necessity on a struggling Magic team, in his first few seasons in the league, Anthony was thought of as a potential 6MOTY candidate. Historically, Doc gets a lot out of young and talented guards, and if Anthony can take a leap this year, I could see him closing games and becoming a key piece late in the season.

Kyle: I am going with a dark horse answer now that he made the roster. Andre Jackson Jr. seemed to be out the door, but he survived. While his defense will get him playing time, there is a chance he can have some semblance of offense, which would be the biggest shock of them all.

This year’s fan favorite will be…​

Morgan: Cole Anthony seems fun! I demand antics, and he seems likeliest to supply them.

Finn: Milwaukee faithful have already rallied around Ryan Rollins, and if he lives up to his breakout expectations, he’s only going to become more popular. A dark horse candidate here is Mark Sears.

Jack: Myles Turner. I mean, the guy is just the ultimate teammate, and the way he has ingratiated himself into the Milwaukee (and greater Wisconsin) community has been great to see. I think the fans will return that respect twofold.

Drew: Going to ride the excitement of a new face and go with Cole Anthony. Great-athlete bucket-getters off the bench are always exciting.

Jackson: I’m going with Rollins as well. He plays the game extremely hard and has a great story of how he has built himself up since coming to Milwaukee over two years ago. While he won’t play a lot, I’ll of course throw in Thanasis, who will be a great locker room guy and extra coach on the bench for Doc Rivers.

Van: Now that he’s back, Thanasis can resume his role as victory cigar. While yes, there are fans who decry his presence on the team, I imagine he’ll get a rise out of the Fiserv Forum crowd as he heads to the scorer’s table when a game hits garbage time, especially if the Bucks are ahead.

Zac: For as long as he’s with the Bucks, the answer is The Mayor of Milwaukee—at least in Fiserv. By all accounts, Cole Anthony will make a push, though. Fans love a “little guy,” especially one with as much personality and flair as Anthony, who’ll have his fair share of highlight plays on both ends of the court.

Nate: Myles Turner! Love his on-court passion and his off-court goofiness. I always gravitate toward joy in basketball, and I feel like he radiates a passion for the game. Of course, Thanasis will be holding down the bench mob, but I’m excited for the momentum threes and blocks that Turner will bring to stoke the crowd.

Kyle: Bobby Portis is back, though he is not The Mayor of Milwaukee anymore (s/o Tommy and Big Frank), Cole Anthony seems to be a cool dude, and some good play will have Bucks fans liking him.

MCB (Most Cooked Buck): Which Buck will regress the most or be a fan not-so-favorite?​

Morgan: He-who-shall-not-be-named.

Finn: There’s almost no way Kyle Kuzma can regress from where he was last year, so I’ll roll with Taurean Prince. He fell all the way out of the rotation in the 2025 playoffs, and while he could still provide some decent minutes in the regular season, he’s clearly not a guy the Bucks should rely on with any sort of weight.

Jack: Yeah, I’m with Finn. From what we’ve seen in preseason and from Doc’s recent comments, it seems like Prince’s role will be significantly reduced. Doc said that his aim for TP this year was to shoot spot-ups and not “do too much.” Music to my ears.

Drew: I don’t think there are high enough expectations for Kuz to regress, so I’ll go Prince as well and say Father Time catches up to him some more this season.

Jackson: I usually try to go outside of the box with some of these questions, but it’s unquestionably Kuzma, for the reasons laid out by some of the others here. Dark horse could be Andre Jackson Jr.; despite earning that last roster spot over Tyler Smith, he could be in jeopardy of barely seeing the floor. Maybe Prince loses a step, but if not, Jackson could be cooked.

Van: It’s Kuzma. No need to overthink this—a big chunk of the fanbase doesn’t like him, and I can’t blame them. So I’ll pick second place and say Amir Coffey. I don’t think anyone on this roster is “cooked” (though Prince or Harris might be), but I also don’t think Coffey will be particularly helpful, and people will be calling for him to be waived well in advance of his January guarantee date.

Zac: Cooked? Gary Harris. Fan Not-So-Favorite? Kyle Kuzma. Regress the most? Amir Coffey—I just can’t see him getting the playing time needed to do anything but regress (at least in comparison to what he did for the Clippers). Jericho Sims also needs to show a lot more than he did in preseason, or he could be the one collecting DNP-CDs.

Nate: Sims looked pretty lost in the preseason, but I don’t know if he showed enough last season for it to be considered a significant regression. I’ll agree with folks and say Taurean Prince. Last year, he stepped up when others struggled during the long regular season and played pretty much exactly how he was expected to. I value that he plays within himself, but that will probably be even more limited this season.

Kyle: Bucks fans will throw a ticker tape parade in February when Kyle Kuzma gets traded.

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That’s what we think, but what about you? Feel free to weigh in on any of the above questions/topics in the comments.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/52860/roundtable-2025-26-milwaukee-bucks-predictions

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Bucks 133, Wizards 120

The Milwaukee Bucks were able to take care of business and deny Khris Middleton a “revenge game” (I use revenge loosely), as they dispatched the Washington Wizards 133-120. Giannis had a spectacular performance with 37 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, while Middleton led the Wizards with 23 points on 9/14 shooting.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

Even before the festivities got underway, it was an emotional night, with Bucks fans giving Middleton a standing ovation when he was being introduced with the Wizards starters. Once the ball was tossed in the air, Milwaukee got rolling right away with two of the newest starters getting in on the action. AJ Green, who started his ninth career game, hit the first shot of the season off an assist from Myles Turner. Then, after an Alex Sarr dunk, Turner scored his first points as a Buck, draining a right corner three. Shots beyond the arc were the Bucks’ bread and butter, as they hit five of their first six shots from deep, jumping out to a double-digit lead early. In the later stages of the quarter, Kevin Porter Jr. sprained his left ankle by stepping on Bobby Portis’ foot while trying to defend a drive by Cam Whitmore. He was held out of the rest of the game. A Middleton three did get the Wizards back within 11 points, but the new-look Bucks put the pedal to the metal. They went on a 12-4 run to balloon their lead to 19 points with 3:38 to go. Milwaukee was able to sustain that type of lead heading into the second quarter, leading 40-23.

The Bucks were able to nudge their lead to as many as 22 in the early goings, with the second unit scoring the first seven points of the frame. Washington wouldn’t go away, though, as rookie Tre Johnson hit a pair of threes, then Kyshawn George nailed one, and Corey Kispert hit a layup to cut the lead down to 14 points, forcing a timeout from Doc Rivers. Giannis came back in at the 7:46 mark and immediately got to work. Before being forced to sub out after picking up his third foul, the Greek Freak scored seven points to help keep the Milwaukee lead firmly in the double digits through the 3:11 mark. Gary Trent Jr. knocked in two more threes, sending the Bucks into the locker room up by 19 points, 72-53.

It was a rough start to the second half for the Bucks offensively, as they missed their first four shots with a turnover by Rollins. Washington was able to take advantage, going on a 14-0 run to bring the game back within single digits for the first time since the first quarter, cutting it down to seven with 8:10 left. Turner finally slowed some of the damage by knocking down just his second three-pointer of the night. After a Carrington three, the Bucks started to find their groove again, with Trent hitting a couple of shots from beyond the arc to get the game back to a 13-point lead. Cam Whitmore made his presence known in his debut for the Wizards after being traded to Washington in the offseason, scoring 10 points in the quarter to help keep the game within reach. What stabilized the Bucks’ offense was Kyle Kuzma, of all people, to end the quarter. The former Wizard scored six of the final nine points for Milwaukee to send them to the final quarter of regulation up by 11, 101-90.

Things stayed relatively close, with the Wizards getting back within eight points early on in the fourth quarter. Giannis and the Bucks put the nail in the proverbial coffin once he checked back in. After the Wizards made it an eight-point game, the Bucks went on a 16-4 run over the next five minutes of play to get out to a 20-point lead, 125-105. The Wizards did start to make a bit of a run towards the end, cutting the lead back down to 13 points with 2:11 left on the clock. Milwaukee was able to go into cruise control for the final four minutes of action, coasting to a 13-point victory.

Stat That Stood Out​

All throughout the offseason, the Bucks’ players and brass talked about the need to take more threes, especially since they led the league in percentage a year ago. There were moments during the preseason that indicated this would be the case, and that carried over to game one. Last year, they averaged 36.6 threes per game, and they already eclipsed it by about eight, shooting 44 of them and hitting 40.9%. Trent led the way with five threes made on 11 attempts.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...-giannis-antetokounmpo-khris-middleton-return

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Kevin Porter Jr. out tomorrow vs. Raptors

The good injury luck the Bucks had going into the regular season didn’t last long at all. Just 10 minutes into the season opener against the Washington Wizards, the new starting point guard, Kevin Porter Jr., suffered a left ankle sprain. It happened after he accidentally stepped on Bobby Portis’s foot while defending Cam Whitemore on a drive to the basket. Now, according to the latest NBA injury report, Sakuta has been ruled out due to that injury. This is what head coach Doc Rivers said after the Bucks’ 133-120 win over Washington, on the status of Porter moving forward:

“It didn’t look good, I’ll tell you that. We’re going to do an MRI tomorrow (today as you’re reading this), and gotta hope for the best. Looking at it, it was a pretty bad sprain.”

We have yet to hear the full extent of the injury from the team or how long he will be out. We can estimate our own potential timeline based on the three grades of an ankle sprain. Grade one is very minor, and according to Harvard Health, it usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks to heal completely. If it’s a grade two sprain, it can take up to six weeks to heal, taking him into early September. If the injury were severe enough to warrant a grade three strain, he could be out six months or more, so the entire regular season.

In his stead, I imagine Ryan Rollins would slide into the starting lineup, allowing Cole Anthony to lead the second unit with Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis. It’s not an unfamiliar position for Rollins, as he was typically the guy Doc tapped to be the starter last season whenever Damian Lillard was out, starting 19 games for the Bucks. In those 19 starts, Rollins averaged 6.9 points per game, 2.1 rebounds, two assists, and shot 48.5% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc.

UPDATE: The team released a statement with a confirmation that the MRI revealed a left ankle sprain. They also said he will not play in the upcoming road trip to Toronto and Cleveland (without mentioning any games after), and will issue additional updates as appropriate.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-inju...ut-tomorrow-toronto-raptors-left-ankle-sprain

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Toronto Raptors: The first true test

The Milwaukee Bucks secured an opening-night win over the Washington Wizards, 133-120, but now they face their first road test of the season, traveling north of the border to take on the Toronto Raptors. Milwaukee took the season series against Toronto last year, 3-0. The last time these two teams met was Jan. 17, when the Bucks won 130-112. Giannis had a 35-point, 13-rebound double-double.

Where We’re At​

It was about as good a start as you could’ve hoped for the debut of this new Bucks roster. The ball moved quickly, the team played good defense, and they generally played at a much higher pace. While Milwaukee did have some down moments, particularly during a 14-0 run by the Wizards in the third quarter, Milwaukee did enough to keep Washington at arm’s length to secure the win. Giannis had another strong opening night performance with 37 points and 14 rebounds, while Gary Trent Jr. poured in 17 to be the second leading scorer.

The Raptors come in after an impressive 138-118 win over the team many believed had the best offseason, the Atlanta Hawks. RJ Barrett (the Maple Mamba) had an outstanding offensive performance, leading Toronto with 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Last season’s deadline acquisition, Brandon Ingram, slotted himself well next to the other Raptors starters by scoring an efficient 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Second-year guard Gradey Dick made a strong early case for himself as a Sixth Man of the Year contender with 21 points on 6/10 shooting and 2/4 from three. Toronto made it very difficult for the Hawks to generate much on offense, limiting them to 42.2% shooting. Of the 15 turnovers the Raptors forced, 10 of them were steals.

Injury Report​

The Bucks will be without Kevin Porter Jr. not only tonight due to a left ankle sprain but also for the second game of their two-game road trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team said. The only other player on the report is Giannis, who is listed as possible with a significant toe sprain on his left foot.

The Raptors have two players on the report, with rookie Collin Murray-Boyles (right forearm strain) and Ja’Kobe Walter (illness) listed as questionable.

Player To Watch​

With Porter missing tonight’s game, all eyes will turn to the fourth-year man out of Toledo, Ryan Rollins, to fill in the starting point guard role. As I mentioned in my article yesterday, when it was revealed that Porter would be out for at least the next two games, this isn’t new territory for Rollins. We’ll see how he handles full-court pressure from the Raptors, but it won’t just be on him with ball-handling duties; Giannis and Cole Anthony can also take some of the load off of him.

How To Watch​

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 5:30 p.m. CDT.

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

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Bucks 122, Raptors 116

The Milwaukee Bucks downed the Toronto Raptors, 122-116, to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Giannis was an absolute killer, with 31 points, 20 rebounds (!), and seven assists. Additionally, Cole Anthony and Gary Trent Jr. combined for 43 points. The Raptors were led by Brandon Ingram, who dropped 29 points.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

It was a boxing match to start, with both teams going blow for blow. Giannis was dominant on both ends, with 12 points and some brilliant work as a weak-side rim protector and rebounder. The Raptors were trying to flex their size against the visitors’ smaller lineup, but Milwaukee held its own. Then, Cole Anthony came into the game and gave ‘em five quick points as Toronto called a timeout, down 21-15 with 2:50 left in the first. Barring a few unforced turnovers, the non-Giannis lineup did well to end the quarter, Bucks up 27-19 at the first break.

The Bucks’ scoring dried up to open the second, and they continued to make silly turnovers; ergo, the Raptors came all the way back to grab a 35-33 lead following a Brandon Ingram transition triple. The lead extended after another transition three, this time from second-year man Jamison Battle, as they took their largest lead of the game at seven, up 42-35. Still playing poorly, the Bucks hung around for the next few minutes and made it to a late timeout down 41-47. The Raptors made a point of posting up Brandon Ingram on AJ Green for the rest of the period, and they succeeded. However, some crucial late three-point makes from Ryan Rollins and Gary Trent Jr. had the Bucks just down two at half, 52-54.

The Bucks came out of the locker room much more focused; they were getting good shots and finally knocking down some threes. Toronto held serve for the most part, but an electrifying Ryan Rollins two-fisted flush in transition had the visitors up one, 67-66, at the first timeout. After a bad defensive play, Cole Anthony redeemed himself with another acrobatic finish at the rim to keep the score deadlocked at 74 with about five minutes left in the third. Anthony then got to the free throw line for another three trips, but inexplicably missed 4/6! Bobby Portis then finally got going with consecutive mid-range shots to put the Bucks up three, but Scottie Barnes nailed a corner three to tie the game at 86 going into the fourth.

Toronto began the final frame with consecutive three-point plays, one a three from Battle, the other an and-one from Quickley. The Bucks fired back, though, mainly through Portis, who quickly tapped on another five points, evening the contest at 97. Then, Giannis nailed his second three of the night (because sure, why not?) to put the Bucks up three. But RJ Barrett went to work beating up on the smaller Bucks guards to tie the game, once again, a few minutes later at 105. Cole Anthony and Immanuel Quickley went back and forth a little bit over the next few minutes, and the Bucks were up one point with 3:30 on the clock. Doc then called a timeout and drew up some action for Trent, who flew off a down screen and nailed a crucial three. Cole Anthony then made a bunch of huge plays, getting to the paint and scoring multiple times to put the Bucks up 117-111. Of course, Brandon Ingram nailed a three to reduce the lead to four, but another clutch three from Trent on the next possession put the game away!

Stat That Stood Out​

The Bucks could have made life easier for themselves if they’d hit their free throws at a better rate, going 14/24 on the night.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...is-cole-anthony-scottie-barnes-brandon-ingram

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Raptors: Roadkill up north

In a game that was far from perfect for the Bucks, they managed to pull out a 122-116 victory over the Toronto Raptors. The team had 18 turnovers (most coming in the first half), and didn’t shoot great from three (14/40), but still found a way to gut it out. Giannis was monstrous, and, as will need to be the case all season, a bunch of role players stepped up. Brandon Ingram was Toronto’s top performer with 29 points and six rebounds, while RJ Barrett chipped in 20 points and also accrued six boards. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast Bucks In Six Minutes below.

View Link

Player Grades​

Giannis Antetokounmpo​

37 minutes, 31 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, 11/14 FG, 2/2 3P, 7/12 FT, +18

Giannis was so, so good last night. He dominated what was a super-physical Raptors defence, dissecting every opening and exerting his will on the game. GA was uber-efficient, and the plus/minus truly tells the story; Milwaukee looked great when he was on the floor. Minus the five turnovers (and the two “no, no, no, yes!” three pointers), it was close to a flawless game for the big fella.

Grade: A

Myles Turner​

28 minutes, 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2/8 FG. 0/3 3P, +12

Turner’s stat line doesn’t look impressive, but aside from missing shots, I don’t think he played poorly at all. Myles’ impact on defence was felt whether he blocked the shot or not, and he takes up so much space down there in the paint that it allows Giannis to “grab and go” much easier. Turner had the second-highest plus/minus on the team, and the eye-test matches that.

Grade: B-

Ryan Rollins​

29 minutes, 13 points, 3 steals, 5/11 FG, 1/5 3P, +3

Rollins is getting more and more comfortable as each game passes, and although he struggled from three again, this was a nice game for him overall. Ryan’s defence remains awesome; he might lead the league in deflections this year. Also, the guy is a sneaky good finisher at the rim; he can finish with either hand in a variety of ways.

Grade: B+

Cole Anthony​

26 minutes, 23 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 9/14 FG, 2/5 3P, +5

The Bucks needed someone other than Giannis to come along for the ride if they were to win this game. Enter, Cole Anthony. Cole was getting two feet in the paint all night long, and his athleticism really pops on a team that can space the floor like Milwaukee can. Now, the free-throw shooting, defence, and turnovers could stand to improve, but for a guard on a minimum contract, you take that production all day. As a famous rapper once said, Cole World.

Grade: A

Gary Trent Jr.​

29 minutes, 20 points, four assists, 7/15 FG, -5

One thing I love about Trent is that he’s never scared of the moment—that was shown in the fourth quarter of this one, when he hit two massive threes. On the whole, GT was solid on both ends. I love the buy-in on defence, but I think it’s fair to say that he’s not someone you should necessarily be relying on to hang with ball-handlers the way you do Ryan Rollins or AJax—we saw that when he was guarding Ingram.

Grade: B+

AJ Green​

25 minutes, 9 points, 3/5 FG, 3/5 3P, +8

This was probably always going to be a game where AJ was minimised to some degree, given the Raptors’ massive lineup. Green didn’t even play badly; I thought his defence was fine, but he was just physically overmatched, having to guard Ingram and/or Barrett for much of the game.

Grade: C+

Bobby Portis​

21 minutes, 11 points, 8 rebounds, 5/13 FG, 1/5 3P, -5

Look, I was happy to see Portis finally hit shots in that second half; it’s felt like he hasn’t made shots since the preseason began. Now, as is the question every year: are isolation mid-rangers good for the offence in the modern NBA? Probably not, but at least he made some last night. On the other end, BP’s defence—whether it be individual or team—has been as bad as ever to open the season, and that’s what this grade reflects. I know his frame limits him to a degree, but I thought he put in a bunch of lazy efforts last night.

Grade: C

Kyle Kuzma​

17 minutes, 8 points, 4/5 FG, -5

Kuzma went down with an ankle injury in this one, but I thought he played another solid game. His defence was good once again, and he let the offence come to him by playing within the system—tick! It sucks that the Bucks are now another player down.

Grade: B+

Taurean Prince​

21 minutes, 3 points, 3 assists, 1/4 FG, +0

TP played his role well in this one. Not a big scoring night, but he did a decent job guarding Ingram down the stretch as Doc upsized the lineup. That’s basically the exact scenario in which TP becomes particularly useful for this team.

Grade: B-

Doc Rivers​

Doc was solid in this one. The decision to set mid-court screens for Giannis when the Raptors were applying full-court pressure was an astute one (though this is probably a general principle for the season as a whole). Also, choosing Cole Anthony to close the game was another good call. The only question I had—and will have going forward—is whether Rivers sticks with all-bench units; Toronto feasted on that unit early in the second.

Grade: B+

limited minutes: Amir Coffey.

DNP-CD: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr., Mark Sears, and Jericho Sims.

Inactive: Kevin Porter Jr., Pete Nance, and Alex Antetokounmpo.

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• Doc’s update on Kuzma’s ankle injury was that it was “a sprain, but not a bad one,” and that he’s “probably day-to-day.”
• Cole Anthony said that in the first half, he was “getting in the paint and spraying the ball [out to teammates].” Then, in the second half, Toronto was “second-guessing themselves in that low-man spot,” thinking that Anthony would keep passing it, which allowed him to look more for his own shot.
• Scottie Barnes scored and then flexed all over an on-the-ground Giannis, and did not receive a tech foul? I guess there’s a new interpretation each year!?

Up Next​

Milwaukee’s road trip continues to Cleveland, where they will face the Cavaliers on Sunday night with a shot to remain unbeaten. Catch the action at 5:00 p.m. Central on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...is-cole-anthony-brandon-ingram-scottie-barnes

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Preview: Proving grounds

The 2-0 Milwaukee Bucks are squaring up against the 1-1 Cleveland Cavaliers on the road tonight. The Cavs emerged victorious in all four meetings between these teams last season, and they’re projected to be just as dangerous this year. This game will be a good litmus test to see where the Bucks stack up in the East.

Where We’re At​

Milwaukee has looked sharp to start the 2025-26 campaign. They’ve earned two solid wins against the Wizards and Raptors, and the process has been as encouraging as the results. This team is clearly working to establish an identity as a high-octane perimeter-oriented offense. Their defense has been respectable too, with most guys showing solid engagement. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been as dominant as ever, averaging 34.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, and the role players have been doing their part.

After losing a tight battle to the Knicks to open their season, the Cavaliers bounced back with a dub against the Nets on Friday night. They are also emphasizing perimeter play, leading the league in threes attempted per game so far. Donovan Mitchell is pulling a lot of weight for his squad, averaging 33.0 points. Former Buck Sam Merrill has been an unexpected hero, dropping 20.5 points and 5.5 threes per night while filling in as a starter in Darius Garland’s absence.

Injury Report​

Kevin Porter Jr. remains out for the Bucks with the ankle sprain he suffered in the opener. Kyle Kuzma has been downgraded to questionable after tweaking an ankle against the Raptors. Giannis is probable with a great toe sprain.

The Cavs are without Darius Garland and Max Strus, who are both recovering from offseason surgeries. De’Andre Hunter, who has yet to debut, is questionable with a right knee contusion.

UPDATE: Cole Anthony, the catalyst of the win against Toronto, is also questionable for the Bucks now with a non-COVID illness.

Player To Watch​

Myles Turner has yet to get in a groove, shooting just 30.0% from the field through his first two games as a Buck. Tonight is as good a night as any for him to get going offensively, especially because Cleveland’s frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen can be counted on for big contributions. Even if he can’t get his shot to fall, Turner’s interior defense against Mobley and Allen will be crucial to pulling out a win.

How To Watch​

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 5:00 p.m. CDT.

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

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Cavaliers 118, Bucks 113

The Milwaukee Bucks lost 118-113 in an ultra-competitive contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who dropped 40 points in 33 minutes, led Milwaukee in a wild third-quarter comeback, but Donovan Mitchell (24 points), Evan Mobley (23) and Sam Merrill (17) silenced their efforts with collected fourth-quarter play. Both teams are now 2-1 on the young season.

Game Recap​

NBA.com Box Score

With Kevin Porter Jr. still injured, the Bucks gave Ryan Rollins another start alongside AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Giannis and Myles Turner. The Cavaliers opened with Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and De’Andre Hunter, who made his season debut coming off an injury.

Both teams were engaged on defense from the jump. A full minute passed before the first points of the game were scored by way of a leaning corner shot from Gary Trent Jr. at the end of the shot clock. Tough jumpers over sticky perimeter defenders were flying everywhere. The score was 12-12 halfway through the opening quarter after AJ Green swished a Kevin Durant-esque pullup middie (who knew that was in his bag?). Undrafted rookie Mark Sears checked in for his NBA debut at the 5:00 minute mark, but the young guard looked uncharacteristically (but expectedly) frazzled. He turned it over on his first touch and passed up a wide-open floater a few possessions later, which triggered a timeout for Coach Doc. Sears was promptly benched. Ryan Rollins took his place and scored a quick five points. Taurean Prince dumped the ball off to Jericho Sims for a dunk (Sims’ first field goal of the season) with 10 seconds left, and the Bucks led 31-29 through one period.

Donovan Mitchell wasted no time reknotting the score in the second quarter, blowing by Rollins for a two-handed slam on the first play. Bobby Portis answered with a couple buckets, but he couldn’t prevent a highlight-induced run. Cleveland mounted a mini Cavalanche and built the first double-digit lead of the game for either team at the 4:54 stamp. De’Andre Hunter and Larry Nance Jr. were catalysts for the home team. The Cavs streak extended to 23-9 with a Jarrett Allen dunk at the 3:19 mark, and it felt like things were slipping away for Milwaukee. Giannis leaned forward in his metaphorical chair, giving the guys in green some hope with a combination of buckets, dimes and blocks, but Cleveland kept a 65-56 lead at the half. Sam Merrill and Giannis each scored 14 points for their respective squads in the first two quarters— one expected leader, one not.

The Bucks needed a timeout just over a minute into the second half after two questionable shot attempts from Trent and Myles Turner. Frustration was building for Milwaukee. Cleveland’s advantage rose to 16 points by the 7:40 tick in the third. However, Giannis was aggressively working to flip the script, giving the paint no time to breathe with a storm of drives. His unrelenting willpower eventually changed the tide. He spearheaded a 17-2 run in the latter part of the quarter that cut the lead back down to single digits. Milwaukee’s defense was working hard behind their leader, and the Cavs didn’t hit a field goal for nearly eight minutes. A beautiful AJ Green corner triple made it a three-point game with 1:30 remaining, and then Prince drove in for a layup to put the Bucks within just one. A game trending toward blowout territory turned into a playoff-coded battle by the end of the period, with Cleveland barely holding onto a 86-84 lead. Giannis had 15 points in the quarter alone.

Milwaukee got off to a rough start in the final frame, turning the ball over twice right away. The Cavs were regaining momentum, with Mitchell, Hunter, Evan Mobley and Craig Porter Jr. all chipping in some early buckets. But, the Bucks responded with a 10-0 run despite Giannis taking a short breather. Turner started to come alive, delivering some emphatic swats and hitting a couple timely triples. Giannis continued to dominate after he subbed back in. Milwaukee was fighting so hard, but Cleveland was able to hold them at five-points length. Their lead was 112-106 when Mitchell hit a dagger of a mid-range pull-up with 1:12 remaining. The Cavs had an answer for every Buck basket in the clutch, and they emerged victorious 118-113 in the end.

Stat That Stood Out​

The Cavaliers won the rebound battle, 58-45. The extra possessions and transition looks they generated from crashing the glass allowed them to capture the win despite shooting 6% worse from the field and 9% worse from three than Milwaukee. Volume often beats efficiency in modern basketball.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...ounmpo-40-points-donovan-mitchell-sam-merrill

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Cavaliers: Encouragement, frustration, and Greek-Freakishness

The undermanned Milwaukee Bucks lost 118-113 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a game that had a playoff feel to it. Milwaukee nearly came back and won this one despite some rough stretches, leaving room for encouragement alongside the sting of defeat. This was Cleveland’s sixth straight victory over the Bucks, a streak that dates back to January 2024. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast Bucks In Six Minutes below.

View Link

Player Grades​

Giannis Antetokounmpo​

33 minutes, 40 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 14/20 FG, 1/1 3P, 11/16 FT, -5

It’s probably too hyperbolic to say this, but this felt like one of the all-time signature performances from Giannis. The word “dominant” gets thrown around a lot in hoops talk, but the Greek Freak was genuinely dominant in every sense of the word. His unbelievable determination (and talent, of course) stood out above all else in this game. Without him, Milwaukee probably would have gotten flat-out pummeled. If Antetokounmpo keeps performing as incredibly as he has in this young season, he will reclaim the best-in-the-world crown.

Grade: A+

Myles Turner​

31 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 5/12 FG, 2/6 3P, +1

Turner was rock-solid on defense last night. His two blocks came at crucial moments in the fourth quarter. However, his offense has been really rough so far in his Bucks career. His shots aren’t falling, which will change, but he’s overall looked like just another Giannis-reliant role player out there when this team needs him to be a key offensive cog on a night-to-night basis.

Grade: C

AJ Green​

31 minutes, 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 6/9 FG, 4/7 3P, 4/5 FT, +3

Dairy Bird was laser-focused in this one. He was stuck on automatic from beyond the arc and played the most complete game by any Buck not named Giannis. His four charity-stripe makes set a new career-high.

Grade: A

Gary Trent Jr.​

This is what it can look like when Trent’s shot isn’t falling. He’s a decently disruptive defender, but his potential to impact games falls off a cliff when he isn’t hitting shots, which was the case last night. His -23 plus/minus backs up what the eye test showed: he was the worst player on the floor for either team.

28 minutes, 6 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2/9 FG, 1/7 3P, -23

Grade: F

Ryan Rollins​

34 minutes, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 5/11 FG, +7

Rollins contributed across the board as a starter, putting the potential Bucks fans believe in on full display. He was one of the catalysts of Milwaukee’s third-quarter comeback.

Grade: B+

Taurean Prince​

31 minutes, 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block, 3/6 FG, 2/3 3P, +5

Prince did his job last night. He hit timely shots and wasn’t a negative on defense. It was a rare occasion where giving him over 30 minutes felt like the right move.

Grade: B

Bobby Portis​

23 minutes, 10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 4/10 FG, 2/4 3P

Bobby’s lack of defensive presence sticks out like a sore thumb. Whatever the opposite of NBA2K’s intimidator badge is, he has it equipped. The difference between him and Turner, and even him and Jericho Sims, on that end is so stark it’s infuriating, especially on a night where he’s a total black hole on offense. Love ya, Bobby, but be better, please.

Grade: C-

Mark Sears​

7 minutes, 1 turnover, -5

Undrafted rookie Mark Sears made his NBA debut in this one with Milwaukee needing some help in the backcourt. The usually-poised little guard looked overwhelmed, though, and he couldn’t hang in the contest at all. His woes will hopefully just be a nerve-induced blip in the road.

Grade: D (unfortunately)

Doc Rivers​

Doc mostly pressed the right rotation buttons in this one, and his defensive playcalling was the non-Giannis driver of the third-quarter comeback, as Cleveland had an eight-minute stretch with zero field goals in the period. The man with the clipboard did what he could with a banged-up roster and almost coached an upset victory. He could do more to try and get Myles Turner going moving forward, though, especially when Giannis isn’t on the floor.

Grade: B

Limited Minutes: Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims, Andre Jackson Jr.

DNP-CD: Gary Harris, Pete Nance, Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Inactive: Kevin Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Cole Anthony, Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• Gary Trent Jr. took a brutally bad shot to start the third quarter that likely had old heads everywhere yelling at the TV. Marques Johnson was certainly frustrated. This should have been a lob to Giannis.
• Doc Rivers on how much contact Giannis plays though, per Eric Nehm: “it’s amazing how many times he gets hit on the arms. It’s like Shaq.”
• Jericho Sims threw down a dunk for his first field goal of the season, which was fitting, because over 75% of his career field goals are slams.

Up Next​

The Bucks will take on the New York Knicks at home at 7:00 p.m. Central on Tuesday, another opportunity to snag an upset win against an Eastern Conference contender that has had their number. You can catch the action on Peacock/NBC and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...keaways-giannis-donovan-mitchell-myles-turner

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks Reacts Survey Results: Fans bullish on record, Giannis’ statline

Earlier in the week, we had our first SB Nation Reacts survey of the year. As we’ll do throughout the year, we’ll focus these on larger picture narratives around the team and leave more time-sensitive questions to our Tuesday Tracker, which you’ll see for the first time in a few days. First off, we asked where you thought the Bucks would finish, and I’m pleasantly surprised to see some real optimism in this year’s squad:

In our roundtable from Wednesday, I picked fourth, which was actually on the optimistic end; all but one of my colleagues picked fifth or sixth. Meanwhile, 71% of voters think they’d do better, with a mere 10% picking them to finish below five, where they slotted last season. With a seemingly wide-open East, and no (extremely) early results suggesting that it won’t be, I certainly can see them finishing third. Better? Probably not, but who knows? If anyone thinks they can be the two seed or higher, I’d be curious to hear how you think that’ll happen.

Next up, a question of statistical benchmarks. Giannis has averaged 30+ in three years straight—four if you round up 29.9 from 2021–22. With Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton gone, almost the entire scoring load falls to him now, which would seem to suggest he’ll make it four (or five) in a row. Nevertheless, it was a topic of discussion among some analysts this offseason whether or not he’d get there, with the rationale being that he’s going to spearhead the offense in ways he hasn’t for years. That would up his assists—the logic goes—while curtailing scoring volume, but what say the voters?

Pretty decisive. I can’t say I disagree, and I’m of the mind that he’ll average 30-plus and notch a career high in assists per game. I think he’s just a 30 PPG scorer at this point in his career—that’s the baseline for him. If he did it with two more heavily-starred iterations of this team (Jrue Holiday/Middleton and Dame/Middleton), that’s even more reason to believe he’ll do it again. He’s averaged 6.5 APG in each of the last two seasons, and I think he’s going to become the 12th player in NBA history to average 30 and seven. Coupled with his rebounding, that’ll put him in even more rarified air, as only two players have ever averaged 30/10/7 in a season: Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-poll...-antetokounmpo-nba-eastern-conference-seeding

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Giannis wins Eastern Conference Player of the Week

The Bucks are off to a 2-1 start on the year, and the East’s first POTW of 2025–26 is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s fresh off a three-game stretch where he led the NBA in RPG (16.0) and finished second in PPG (36.0). He was also 14th in the league in APG with 7.0 and shot 68.3% from the field, just outside the top 10 at 11th. The 20 rebounds he accrued on Friday in Toronto are the early-season high for any player.

But that’s not all in terms of superlatives for Giannis. For one, his 40 points on Sunday marked the 55th such game of his career, which ties Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s franchise record. That got him just over 100 points on the young campaign; factoring in his 48 boards and 21 dimes, he’s the first player in NBA history to begin a season with 100/40/15 in his first three contests. He also joins Luka Doncic, Russell Westbrook, and Oscar Robertson as the only players to open their seasons with three consecutive 30/10/5 stat lines. Of those players, he’s the only one who made at least 60% of his shots in each outing.

This is Giannis’ 28th Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. He won it four times last season, as well as Player of the Month in January. Going back to his second MVP season in 2019–20, he’s been commended for his weeks at least three times per year, with the exception of 2021–22, when he only netted the award once.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-news...aukee-buckseastern-conference-player-week-nba

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Knicks: Doing it for the city

Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his blistering start to the 2025 season as the Bucks took down a top Eastern Conference contender, the New York Knicks, winning 121-111. Milwaukee was winless in three tries versus New York last season. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

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Player Grades​

Giannis Antetokounmpo​

33 minutes, 37 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, 16/22 FG, 5/7 FT, +18

Giannis continues to build his MVP resume with another impressive stat line. It’s his third straight game of scoring 31+ points and shooting over 70% from the field. Doing it all for “his city.”

Grade: A

Myles Turner​

30 minutes, 5 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 1/6 FG, 1/5 3PT, 2/2 FT, +18

The offensive struggles continued for Turner, with the third time in four games, he’s failed to shoot over 40% from the field. The defense has been as good as advertised—and then some—and the Bucks have needed it every step of the way.

Grade: B-

Gary Trent Jr.​

30 minutes, 11 points, 4/9 FG, +9

It was a relatively quiet game for Trent, even though we did see him hit a layup while being fouled. When the Bucks needed a dagger, he gave them one, sealing the Bucks’ third win of the season.

Grade: B

Ryan Rollins​

26 minutes, 25 points, 4 assists, 8/11 FG, 4/4 3PT, +12

What a revelation Rollins has been, and tonight proved it again. A new career high in points with 25, and he took the most challenging defensive assignment in guarding Jalen Brunson. The Bucks needed another guy to step up, and Rollins did that in spades.

Grade: A+

AJ Green​

23 minutes, 9 points, 4 fouls, 3/5 3PT, +13

This was going to be another game where Green struggled to match up physically with big wings. Green held his own on that end, and when the Bucks turned it up in the third quarter, he was right in the middle of it with three crucial bombs from beyond the arc.

Grade: B

Cole Anthony​

24 minutes, 4 points, 9 assists, 4 fouls, 2/6 FG, +1

While a C+ might seem harsh, the inefficiencies on the offensive end and the four fouls (even if they are the Brunson calls) take it down a notch. After coming in early for Rollins, who got hit by a Mikal Bridges elbow on a layup, he did a great job of running the ship and dishing the rock.

Grade: C+

Bobby Portis​

16 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 4/10 FG, -8

This was probably one of Bobby’s better games of the four games we have to look at for this year. But he still had the worst plus/minus on the team and took those dreaded mid-range fadeaway shots again. The arrow is trending slightly up, but not by much.

Grade: C-

Kyle Kuzma​

19 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds, 0/2 FG, 5/6 FT, -1

I know I just dinged Anthony for the lack of offensive production, but I can’t understate the defensive performance Kuzma had against Karl-Anthony Towns as the small-ball five. It’s the most active on the defensive end I have seen from him in a Bucks uniform. He was part of an effort that limited KAT to 2/12 shooting and just eight points. Towns averaged over 25 a night against the Bucks a season ago.

Grade: A-

Taurean Prince​

21 minutes, 8 points, 3/4 FG, -7

It was another solid performance from Prince. He did a solid enough job defensively, even when pressed into service to guard Brunson with Rollins and Anthony in a bit of foul trouble. The -7 does drop the grade down a bit, but that was more of Rivers leaving him and Coffey on the floor together for longer than needed.

Grade: C+

Amir Coffey​

14 minutes, 8 points, 2/3 FG, -5

An efficient eight points is something you would love to get out of your 10th man in the rotation. There were some down moments for Coffey, but considering his role and the positives he had tonight, it’s easy to overlook some of those lapses.

Grade: B-

Doc Rivers​

Doc leaving in a lineup of Taurean Prince and Amir Coffey together in the second quarter nearly cost the Bucks the game. From the start of the second, Rivers left that lineup in for 5:13 of game time, and the Knicks outscored them 19-14 to take a 45-41 lead. That run led to a 45-point quarter for New York and a double-digit lead at halftime. They did figure it out and pulled out the win, but it was a rough day for Doc against Mike Brown.

Grade: C-

DNP-CD: Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr., Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Inactive: Kevin Porter Jr., Mark Sears, Pete Nance, Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• The Bucks continued their excellent shooting to begin the year, with their fourth consecutive game shooting at least 50% from the field. They are now just one game short of tying the franchise record for consecutive games to open a season shooting 50% or better from the field. The last time they did it was at the beginning of the 1971–72 season.
• Giannis became the sixth player in NBA history with a three-game streak of 30+ points on 70% shooting. It’s also the first time in 29 years that someone has done it, with Shaquille O’Neal accomplishing the feat back in January of 1996.
• After throwing down a monster dunk in the third quarter, Giannis could be seen on the broadcast saying, “This is my city.” There also appeared to be something he said afterwards, which he clarified postgame: “I thrive when it’s tough.”
• As mentioned before, Kuzma was tasked with defending Towns in the post at times and did a stellar job. Kuzma talked about the matchup and his game plan for defending the former All-Star big man:

“Know your personnel, watching games, and understanding what players want to do. I think I’ve been in the league long enough and played against Towns long enough to understand what he wants and what he wants to do. Being out there, being physical, and putting a body on him. A lot of times when you play physical guys, they don’t want you to be physical, so just bringing that attitude and mentality to the game, it probably frustrated [Towns] a little bit.”

• During the fourth quarter, the Bucks held the Knicks scoreless for nearly 4 minutes, helping secure the win. I asked Doc Rivers what he thought of the stretch after the game:

“It’s probably what I’ll focus on the most when I watch the film. I think you can make offensive runs or defensive runs, and I thought tonight we made a defensive run. That’ll build more confidence for our guys.”

• With the New York media in town, you knew that there would be questions surrounding ESPN’s Shams Charania’s report that Giannis preferred the Knicks if he ever left the Bucks. When asked if any of that was a distraction, here was his response:

“I don’t have time, I have four kids. I have a seven-month-old, a two-year-old, a four-year-old, and a five-year-old. So, brother, I don’t have time to read. Even if I wanted to pay attention to things like that, my life doesn’t let me. I have four little gremlins that are running around, I have my craft I have to improve, and then I gotta lead the team, and then I got other things. I got my wife, I got my mother, I got my brothers, I got to go to church, I ain’t got time for all of that. I just love playing basketball, and I try to speak on the court.”

Up Next​

The Bucks have two more home tilts this week, with their next one coming on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central, and you can catch the action on NBA TV and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...giannis-ryan-rollins-kyle-kuzma-jalen-brunson

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks Reacts Survey: Who should be running point in the clutch?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Vibes are great around the Bucks right now after taking out the Knicks last night, and doing so somewhat convincingly with a sterling second half: Milwaukee allowed just 40 points after half to one of the Eastern Conference’s best. Maybe we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves from just a 3-1 start, but after an offseason where the national media cast serious shade on this team and their chances, I think there’s some measure of vindication to be had. So let us dream for a moment, at least until we know how the Bucks stack up against an impressive Warriors squad on Thursday.

If nothing else, it’s because they’ve done this without being fully healthy. A sprained ankle held out sudden rim protector Kyle Kuzma for a game, illness cost Cole Anthony one, and of course, Kevin Porter Jr.‘s ankle sprain has kept him out since the season’s first quarter. Doc Rivers said on Monday that he expects KPJ to return within five or six days, but in the interim, Ryan Rollins has taken the starting point guard spot and ran with it. Last night was the finest game of his career—on national television, no less—and had the former players on NBC’s game coverage abuzz. This has ignited a debate about whether or not he should start, but given how Anthony looked in Toronto with the closing lineup, I think it’s worth discussing who should be running point in crunch time.

So have your say below, and also weigh in on whether or not you think the Bucks can go at least 47-31 the rest of the way. This is where I’ll add that despite a 2-8 start last season, Milwaukee managed 48 wins, so for the final 72 games of last year, they played at a 52-win pace. Early indications is that while this year’s team may look less impressive on paper, they are playing as greater than the sum of their parts; not something that could be said about any Bucks team since Mike Budenholzer roamed the sidelines.

Editor’s note: due to technical difficulties with our survey host, the Tuesday Tracker will begin next week.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-poll...ard-ryan-rollins-kevin-porter-jr-cole-anthony

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Golden State Warriors: Another step up

The Milwaukee Bucks take on the Golden State Warriors tonight in a marquee matchup. Both teams have lost only one game this season and have looked the goods thus far, making this game one to watch. The Warriors dominated the Bucks last season, beating them in both matchups, doing an admirable job guarding Giannis in each game. Draymond Green was a key part of that, but the Dubs also added Al Horford this season—another excellent Giannis defender, even at his age. In short, this promises to be a physical battle, and the way Antetokounmpo handles it will go a long way toward determining the victor.

Where We’re At​

The Bucks have looked legit so far. They sit at 3-1, with wins over the Wizards, Raptors, and Knicks, and their sole loss coming in a close game against the Cavs (when both teams were undermanned). The team is starting to gel and find cohesion as players settle into their roles. Other than Giannis, Ryan Rollins has been the story of late, considering his stellar play two nights ago on both ends against New York. However, Rollins’ performance shouldn’t overshadow the contributions of guys like Kyle Kuzma and Cole Anthony, who continue to play their roles to a T. Once Kevin Porter Jr. returns, this team will look even more deadly.

You can also apply much of the same sentiments to Golden State, who have seemingly continued their terrific play following last season’s trade deadline, when they acquired Jimmy Butler. The Warriors have defeated the Lakers, Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Clippers. This is a team that has always played a beautiful brand of basketball centred around Steph Curry and Draymond Green’s ageless two-man game, but the cherry on top has been the play of the oft-criticised Jonathan Kuminga. As our friends over at Golden State of Mind wrote, Kuminga has grabbed the starting spot he was tentatively given at the start of the season and forced coach Steve Kerr to make it permanent. JK has bought into playing selfless basketball and using the gravity of his future Hall of Fame teammates to his advantage. In short, the Dubs are rolling, and it’ll take an even better effort from the Bucks tonight if they want to get this win as well.

Injury Report​

For the Bucks, Giannis is listed as probable (left knee soreness), while KPJ remains out (left ankle sprain).

For the Warriors, De’Anthony Melton is out (left ACL surgery), as is Alex Toohey (left knee injury recovery), while Moses Moody is questionable (right thumb soreness).

Player To Watch​

I’m going with the aforementioned Jonathan Kuminga. It felt like in past seasons, opponents could bait Kuminga into hijacking Golden State’s “beautiful game” offence and taking over for himself. Whatever the case, Milwaukee will need to get the ball out of Curry and Butler’s hands, which will naturally mean Kuminga has it. For the Bucks’ sake, I hope he isn’t as deadly a passer and playmaker as he’s been to start this season.

How To Watch​

NBA TV 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