The success of the Milwaukee Bucks as soon as once more hinges on creating a supporting forged round star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
To this point, the search has been a pricey five-year venture that has produced a complete of 1 playoff sequence win for the reason that Bucks captured the NBA title. The first fixed via the continued overhaul has been Antetokounmpo, who received back-to-back MVP awards in 2019 and 2020.
Antetokounmpo, averaging 31.2 factors per sport, exited final Monday’s loss in opposition to Cleveland with a low-grade left groin pressure and is anticipated to overlook one to 2 weeks.
Even with a wholesome Antetokounmpo, questions stay in regards to the rebuilt roster below veteran coach Doc Rivers.
With out Antetokounmpo, the Bucks noticed their 13-game successful streak in opposition to the Detroit Pistons finish with a 129-116 loss on Saturday to fall to 8-9. It was their fourth consecutive loss and second with out Antetokounmpo.
Previous to the 2020-21 season, the Bucks added standout guard Jrue Vacation to a lineup that additionally included veterans Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, ensuing of their first NBA title since 1971.
Milwaukee misplaced the next season within the Japanese Convention semifinals, adopted by three consecutive first-round playoff exits, together with 2023 when the Bucks had an NBA-best 58-24 regular-season file.
After three seasons with the Bucks, Vacation was traded away in a pricey three-team deal involving Portland and Phoenix that introduced all-star guard Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. The extremely anticipated pairing of Antetokounmpo and Lillard by no means paid off.
An injured Lillard was waived after final season and satirically resigned with Portland. The Bucks then signed veteran free agent center-forward Myles Turner after 10 seasons with Indiana.
Along with Lillard, Lopez left through free company, Pat Connaughton was traded, and Chris Livingston was waived. Final February, Middleton was traded to Washington for Kyle Kuzma.
Returnees included AJ Inexperienced, Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, Jericho Sims, Gary Trent Jr., and guard Ryan Rollins.
Rollins has been the most important shock, averaging a second-best 17.4 factors via 15 video games. Kuzma, Turner, Inexperienced and Trent every common in double figures, with Portis only a shade beneath.
Kuzma, who averaged 19.5 factors per sport throughout his 4 seasons with Washington, has settled right into a sixth-man function with the Bucks, averaging 13.5 factors in 26 minutes.
Porter, who started the season as the place to begin guard, suffered an ankle damage within the opening sport. However he injured his proper knee whereas working his manner again and was anticipated to overlook about 4 weeks after surgical procedure on his proper knee meniscus.
After eight video games, Prince underwent surgical procedure for a herniated disc in his neck and his return date is unsure.
Through the 2021 championship season, Antetokounmpo averaged 28.1 factors and 11.0 rebounds. Middleton averaged 20.4 factors, Lopez 12.3 factors, and Vacation 17.7 factors and 6.1 assists.
Even when Porter and Prince return, the present version of the Bucks don’t have the identical supporting offensive firepower because the championship staff, or the 2022-23 squad, placing much more stress on Antetokounmpo, who turns 31 in early December.
In 2024, Antetokounmpo missed your complete first-round playoff sequence in opposition to Indiana with a strained left calf. In 2023, he harm his decrease again within the opening playoff sport in opposition to Miami and didn’t return till Sport 4 when the top-seeded Bucks have been ousted in 5 video games.
Like most groups constructed round one famous person, the Bucks can not win with out a wholesome Antetokounmpo. The fast problem is discovering the mix to win with him.
