Bucks Preview: Once Again, Hopes Rest On Shoulders Of Giannis Antetokounmpo And Aging Core

Bucks

A look at the Milwaukee Bucks entering the 2024-25 season …

• Last Season: 49-33 (lost to the Pacers in the first round)
• New Faces: Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, Delon Wright, A.J. Johnson, Tyler Smith
• Key Losses: Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jae Crowder, Danilo Gallinari, Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Overview

Last season was nothing short of a debacle for the Bucks. What started with optimism quickly devolved into chaos after the team took a chance on first-time head coach Adrian Griffin, only to fire him just a few months later.

Then they turned to Doc Rivers, but even a seasoned bench boss couldn’t save what had already become a lost season. The Bucks, who entered the year with championship aspirations, somehow finished with a worse record under Rivers and exited the playoffs in the first round for the second straight season.

It wasn’t just the coaching carousel that held back the 2021 NBA champions. Damian Lillard, acquired in a blockbuster deal right before training camp, openly admitted he was in “the worst shape” of his life upon arrival in Milwaukee.

It was a brutal transition for the future Hall of Famer, and it showed. Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo spent the season struggling to find a rhythm, and that lack of chemistry plagued the Bucks all year long.

But Milwaukee’s issues didn’t stop with Lillard and Giannis. The roster itself was creaking under the weight of Father Time.

Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez are all entering their mid-30s, and each showed signs of decline last season. Meanwhile, the Bucks’ depth was suspect, and things only got worse when Giannis suffered a left calf strain late in the year, putting even more demand on a thin rotation.

Now, the Bucks are all-in with their core of four stars — Giannis, Lillard, Middleton, and Lopez. The financial commitment is massive, with Milwaukee shelling out $152 million to keep the quartet together.

That left GM Jon Horst little wiggle room in free agency, forcing him to fill out the roster with minimum contracts. To his credit, Horst did well, landing veterans like Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and Delon Wright — players who can contribute right away and help Milwaukee in the playoffs. Trent, in particular, looks poised to compete for a starting spot.

Still, this roster is far from the one that hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2021. Lillard, Middleton, and Lopez aren’t getting any younger. Middleton, at 33, is the youngest of the trio, but he’s been dealing with health issues of his own, including offseason surgery on both ankles. He’ll be limited in training camp, just like last year when he was recovering from knee surgery.

As for the all-important chemistry between Giannis and Lillard? It has to improve, right? Maybe a full training camp under Rivers will help solidify their pick-and-roll partnership, even if Middleton’s absence adds a wrinkle to their offensive game plan.

But no matter how you slice it, Giannis will be the key to everything. When healthy, he’s one of the three best players on the planet. His 30-12-7 averages last season were absurd, but it didn’t matter when he wasn’t at full strength in the playoffs.

Here’s the bottom line: if Milwaukee’s big four can stay healthy, they’ll still be a contender. But that’s a big “if.”

The Bucks are older, more injury-prone, and stuck in a cap crunch. Trent, Prince, and Wright will help, but they aren’t enough to carry the load if the stars falter.

The Bucks’ success will come down to whether Giannis and Lillard can perform at their peak, and whether Middleton and Lopez can turn back the clock one more time.

Best-case scenario? Giannis stays healthy, Lillard rediscovers his All-NBA form, and the new additions bring stability off the bench. Milwaukee contends with Boston, Philadelphia, and New York for the Eastern Conference crown.

Worst-case scenario? Giannis’ injury issues persist, Lillard’s prime days are behind him, and Middleton and Lopez continue their decline.

In that case, not only are the Bucks out of the title picture, but Giannis might start wondering if his future truly lies in Milwaukee.

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