Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss his second game this season due to left knee soreness, the Milwaukee Bucks announced Wednesday afternoon. Fortunately for them, the 3-7 Charlotte Hornets do not represent the stiffest competition and will themselves be missing two of their best players in point guard LaMelo Ball and forward Brandon Miller.
Still, from the standpoint of sheer production, the Bucks will need someone to step up in Giannis’ absence. Even for one game, his 33.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per contest are obviously too much to ask any one player to replicate.
Nov 10, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
What combination of names will answer the bell in his place? Ryan Rollins? Kyle Kuzma? Myles Turner? AJ Green? The good news for Milwaukee is that any number of players are capable of upping their contributions on a given Wednesday in November.
Giannis’ absence leaves opportunities galore for multitude of teammates against vulnerable Hornets (25th in defensive net rating)
Among candidates to go off on a heater, Rollins is front and foremost. He is the team’s second leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, has reached double figures in nine straight, and eclipsed 20 points three times already. The last time Giannis sat out, Rollins poured in 32 in a win over the Warriors.
Oct 30, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) takes a shot against Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) in the 4th quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
For his part, Kuzma is coming off his Bucks career-high with 26 against the Mavericks on Monday. He has shown surprising consistency as Milwaukee’s top bench scorer (13.8 PPG). He could once again see himself inserted into the starting lineup, as in the Golden State game.
On the other end of the expectations spectrum, Myles Turner hasn’t yet emerged as the offensive weapon he was in recent years for the Pacers. On the season he is averaging just 11.6 points on 42.1 percent from the field, though before a quiet game versus Dallas he was heating up from three.
Elsewhere on the roster, AJ Green is a ticking time bomb (47.2 percent on threes this season, 10.9 points per game). Yet to score more than 20 points this season, he is liable to explode if the Bucks ever give him the greenlight to start chucking.
Jan 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) sets up a play in the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Gary Trent Jr. has been a disappointment thus far, but Bucks fans are well aware of his volume-scoring capabilities from last postseason. Cole Anthony (season high 23) and Bobby Portis (16), who could see extra minutes at power forward with Giannis out, could also be due for good games off the bench.
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