The Milwaukee Bucks once again find themselves relying on how well they can build a strong group around Giannis Antetokounmpo. The effort to form that reliable support system has stretched across five seasons and has cost the franchise plenty, producing only one playoff series victory since their championship run.
Through all the reshuffling, Antetokounmpo has remained the anchor, carrying the team while earning back-to-back MVP honors in 2019 and 2020. This season, he has continued to set the pace at 31.2 points per game, but he left the recent defeat to Cleveland with a low-grade left groin strain. He is now expected to sit out for one to two weeks, adding more strain to a roster still searching for answers.
The Bucks, who have lost five straight, look like one of the worst teams without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court.
Milwaukee is now carrying an 8-10 record during an ongoing evaluation period from Giannis.
The next month will be very important for Milwaukee to right the ship. pic.twitter.com/1AGKlT5c1e
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) November 25, 2025
Even when Antetokounmpo suits up, the Bucks still wrestle with how this reworked roster fits under veteran coach Doc Rivers. Once he stepped out of the lineup, those concerns quickly grew. Milwaukee’s 13-game streak over the Detroit Pistons ended in a 129 – 116 loss, and the Portland Trailblazers came in and handed them a 115 – 103 defeat. The Bucks have now dropped five in a row, with three of those coming while Antetokounmpo recovers.
The Bucks have dropped five in a row and are showing just how vulnerable they are without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor. Milwaukee sits at 8-10 as the team continues to navigate this evaluation period while Giannis recovers. The next month will be critical for the Bucks to regain momentum and stabilize their season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks since winning their 2021 championship
Apr 10, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) sits on the bench with a calf injury in the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Before the 2020 to 2021 campaign, Milwaukee brought in Jrue Holiday to join veterans Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, and that group powered the franchise to its first championship since 1971.
The momentum faded quickly. The Bucks fell in the Eastern Conference semifinals the next year, then followed it with three straight first round exits, including a disappointing finish in 2023 when they posted an NBA best 58 to 24 record.
The much talked about duo of Antetokounmpo and Lillard never found steady ground. Lillard battled injuries, the year slipped away, and Milwaukee eventually waived him before he made his return to Portland. The Bucks later shifted their focus to free agency and added veteran big man Myles Turner, who arrived after a decade in Indiana.
Nov 1, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts with guard Ryan Rollins (13) after scoring a basket in the 3rd quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Ryan Rollins has emerged as the team’s biggest surprise, putting up a team second-best 18.2 points per game through 18 contests. Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, AJ Green, and Gary Trent Jr. all average in double figures, while Bobby Portis sits just below that mark. Kuzma, who averaged 19.5 points during his four years in Washington, has embraced a sixth-man role in Milwaukee, contributing 13.6 points in 26 minutes per game.
As with many teams centered on a single superstar, the Bucks struggle to win when Giannis Antetokounmpo is sidelined. Their immediate task is identifying the right lineup and approach to maximize success when he is on the court.