The success of the Milwaukee Bucks once again hinges on developing a supporting cast around star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
So far, the search has been a costly five-year project that has produced a total of one playoff series win since the Bucks captured the NBA title. The primary constant through the ongoing overhaul has been Antetokounmpo, who won back-to-back MVP awards in 2019 and 2020.
Antetokounmpo, averaging 31.2 points per game, exited last Monday’s loss against Cleveland with a low-grade left groin strain and is expected to miss one to two weeks.
Even with a healthy Antetokounmpo, questions remain about the rebuilt roster under veteran coach Doc Rivers.
Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks saw their 13-game winning streak against the Detroit Pistons end with a 129-116 loss on Saturday to fall to 8-9. It was their fourth consecutive loss and second without Antetokounmpo.
Prior to the 2020-21 season, the Bucks added standout guard Jrue Holiday to a lineup that also included veterans Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, resulting in their first NBA title since 1971.
Milwaukee lost the following season in the Eastern Conference semifinals, followed by three consecutive first-round playoff exits, including 2023 when the Bucks had an NBA-best 58-24 regular-season record.
After three seasons with the Bucks, Holiday was traded away in a costly three-team deal involving Portland and Phoenix that brought all-star guard Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. The highly anticipated pairing of Antetokounmpo and Lillard never paid off.
An injured Lillard was waived after last season and ironically resigned with Portland. The Bucks then signed veteran free agent center-forward Myles Turner after 10 seasons with Indiana.
In addition to Lillard, Lopez left via free agency, Pat Connaughton was traded, and Chris Livingston was waived. Last February, Middleton was traded to Washington for Kyle Kuzma.
Returnees included AJ Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, Jericho Sims, Gary Trent Jr., and guard Ryan Rollins.
Rollins has been the biggest surprise, averaging a second-best 17.4 points through 15 games. Kuzma, Turner, Green and Trent each average in double figures, with Portis just a shade below.
Kuzma, who averaged 19.5 points per game during his four seasons with Washington, has settled into a sixth-man role with the Bucks, averaging 13.5 points in 26 minutes.
Porter, who began the season as the starting point guard, suffered an ankle injury in the opening game. But he injured his right knee while working his way back and was expected to miss about four weeks after surgery on his right knee meniscus.
After eight games, Prince underwent surgery for a herniated disc in his neck and his return date is uncertain.
During the 2021 championship season, Antetokounmpo averaged 28.1 points and 11.0 rebounds. Middleton averaged 20.4 points, Lopez 12.3 points, and Holiday 17.7 points and 6.1 assists.
Even when Porter and Prince return, the current edition of the Bucks do not have the same supporting offensive firepower as the championship team, or the 2022-23 squad, putting even more pressure on Antetokounmpo, who turns 31 in early December.
In 2024, Antetokounmpo missed the entire first-round playoff series against Indiana with a strained left calf. In 2023, he hurt his lower back in the opening playoff game against Miami and didn’t return until Game 4 when the top-seeded Bucks were ousted in five games.
Like most teams built around one superstar, the Bucks cannot win without a healthy Antetokounmpo. The immediate challenge is finding the combination to win with him.
