Cole Anthony is underperforming for the Milwaukee Bucks. And Doc Rivers needs to start considering other options for point guard minutes.
Mark Sears deserves another chance. It’s not a guaranteed fix, but it feels like a move the Bucks should try. At this point, it cannot get much worse. Cole Anthony keeps piling up careless turnovers, and they come in bunches every night. Over the last five games, he has given the ball away 17 times in just 18.8 minutes per game, and he sits at minus -20 during that stretch.
Nov 10, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Cole Anthony (50) dribbles during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The scoring issues tell the same story, and the Bucks desperately need steadier offense from the point guard spot with Kevin Porter Jr. still out. Rollins can only carry so much of that load. Anthony hasn’t provided the support Milwaukee expected.
Over his last seven games, he has topped five points just once and has shot under 30 percent from the field during that stretch. He has piled up 21 turnovers while making only 14 shots. His true shooting mark sits at 46 percent for the season, which would be the lowest of his career.
Doc Rivers should give Mark Sears a chance
Nov 15, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Mark Sears (19) during warmups prior to the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Bucks gain more by testing Sears than by sticking with the same struggling setup. That doesn’t require stripping Anthony of all his minutes. Instead, Doc Rivers can fold Sears into real game situations and evaluate how he handles consistent rotation time, reducing the team’s growing dependence on Anthony.
Sears has made a strong case for more meaningful minutes. Despite receiving only brief stints on the floor, he has delivered 19 points in 23 minutes and connected on half of his six three-point attempts, bringing a spark the Bucks have been missing. The sample remains small, but the glimpses of creativity and shot-making are hard to ignore, giving Milwaukee every reason to see what he can offer in a larger role.
Oct 6, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) drives to the basket against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Rivers has already shown he’s willing to shake things up, giving Andre Jackson Jr. Cole Anthony’s minutes against Detroit. Even so, Jackson isn’t built to log another 29-minute outing on a consistent basis, especially with his own turnover issues and frequent fouls.
With Porter still sidelined, Sears has a clear path to step in as a secondary or tertiary option. Instead of sticking with a plan that keeps failing, the Bucks should act now and give Sears a real chance to steady the guard rotation.