Ryan Rollins has emerged as the Milwaukee Bucks’ top offensive weapon amid the absence of injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Rollins has been playing great overall in the 2025-26 NBA season. Even before Antetokounmpo went down with a groin injury that has sidelined him for three games (and counting), Rollins hadflashed his ability to find his way on offense.
But that was not the case on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers at Fiserv Forum, as the Bucks suffered a115-103 loss, their fifth in a row.
The former Toledo Rockets star struggled to find his shot against the Blazers, as he went 4-for-14 from the floor and missed all four attempts from behind the arc to finish with just 10 points. He had seven assists, but turned the ball over four times.
Blazers had success against Bucks rising star’ Rollins
Nov 24, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA;Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) defends against Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have become easier to solve on offense, which also means teams can defend against someone like Rollins more honestly without having to worry about the damage the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player can create.
“Just pressuring him,” Rivers said after the game about what Portland did effectively in trying to contain Rollins, perEric Nehm of The Athletic.
“Same thing as (the last team) did. You can predict that. The league is copycat. After the other night, I told our coaches, Ryan’s next couple games, they’re gonna trap him and pressure him and try to speed him up because they know he’s really – we don’t have a lot of ballhandling out there on the floor,” Rivers continued.
“We don’t have a lot of ballhandling on the team in that way. And so we have to figure that out as moving. We’re running some middle action with our bigs handling, doing DHOS. I thought we had some success the other night and tonight when we did that. Bobby was phenomenal doing it.”
Rollins will look to recover and bounce back with a stronger performance this Wednesday against the Miami Heat in South Beach.
Nov 24, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Rollins (13) pushes the ball up the court against the Trail Blazers in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
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