A bold concern: the Bucks’ season has veered off track in ways that threaten more than just a few losses. Milwaukee started 5-1 and closed October with impressive back-to-back wins over the Knicks and Warriors, yet the momentum evaporated. Since then, the team has won only five of its last 16 games, including a seven-game skid from November 15 to 28. They halted the slide with a comfortable win over the lowly Nets, but followed that by a 129-126 defeat to the Washington Wizards, who sit at the bottom of the standings.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s two-week absence with a minor left groin strain explains part of the trouble, but it hardly justifies the entire slide. Even with guard Ryan Rollins stepping up as the top scorer in three of the four games Giannis missed, Milwaukee dropped all four without the Greek Freak. After his return, the Bucks have still lost two of three, turning a promising start into a precarious position outside the playoff picture.
So what’s going wrong?
Defensive gaps
Among the season’s most persistent issues is defense. Aside from the Nets game, Milwaukee has allowed at least 106 points in every matchup. They sit around 118.2 points allowed per game (18th in the league)—not openly terrible, but too often opponents surge back into games. Only one win has come by a single score (117-115 over Indiana on Nov. 3), with three losses by similar margins, including the recent Wizards game led by Khris Middleton.
The Bucks also rank poorly in steals and blocks (21st in both), commit the eighth-most fouls per game (21.9), and lack a premier perimeter stopper. Missing a player like Jrue Holiday is keenly felt in this department.
Rebounding struggles
Defense and rebounding often travel together, and Milwaukee is in the bottom third for boards. Even with Giannis’s 10.7 rebounds per game (fifth-best in the league), the team ranks 23rd for defensive rebounds per game (31.4) and leads the league in offensive rebounds surrendered (8.3 per game). This has translated into a league-worst 10.5 second-chance points per game.
Center Myles Turner, acquired to bolster the post, is averaging just 6.2 rebounds per game, ranking 50th in the NBA. That’s not ideal for a 6-foot-11 center earning a hefty $27 million annually.
Imbalanced scoring load
Giannis will always lead the Bucks in scoring, and he’s on track for another MVP-caliber season at 30.6 points per game. But the supporting cast hasn’t provided enough help.
Rollins has shown promise as an offensive threat and is still developing, but others have fallen short. Kyle Kuzma, acquired in the Middleton trade with Washington, is averaging only 13 points per game. Turner sits at 12.5 points per game, the lowest mark since the COVID season.
Strangely, Milwaukee ranks high in efficiency—third in field-goal percentage (49.5%) and first in three-point percentage (41.7%). Yet they’re the worst free-throw shooting team in the NBA at 70.3%, and coupled with limited offensive boards and second-chance opportunities, it’s a troubling combination for converting possessions into points.
Rising noise and rumors
Complicating matters is the social-media signal around Giannis. He recently scrubbed Bucks content from X and Instagram, leaving only acknowledgments of past titles in his profiles. While the meaning isn’t clear, it feeds ongoing trade speculation and adds a layer of distraction during a trying stretch.
What’s the trajectory?
The Bucks currently sit a game behind the Chicago Bulls for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, with 22 games played and plenty of time to turn things around. Still, with a squad built to contend now, it’s reasonable to expect more cohesive defense, better rebounding, and sharper late-game execution. If the trend continues, questions about the team’s ceiling—and perhaps Giannis’s long-term future—will only intensify.
