Thursday in San Antonio, the Milwaukee Bucks (17-23) square off against the Spurs (27-13) at 8 PM ET. Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed on the injury report as probable with a left ankle sprain. Spurs guard Devin Vassell is out with a thigh injury. The other notable name – bad news for a Bucks team already vulnerable at the wing – is Kyle Kuzma, questionable with an illness. As much as fans make fun of him, Kuzma is an important cog in the rotation as the roster’s only real wing defender. While the Spurs are not an especially big team, they are fast and physical. Missing Kuzma would only leave Milwaukee’s thin wing rotation thinner.
Kuzma’s outsized impact should remind Bucks how badly they need real wing help at the trade deadline
Kuzma would be particularly helpful in guarding Spurs forwards off the bench. Keldon Johnson, while only 6-foot-5, is stronger and more physical than any of the smaller “wings” the Bucks can throw at him in Gary Trent, AJ Green, or Gary Harris. Of those three, Harris, a sneakily solid 6-foot-4, might be the best answer. Johnson is listed at 220 pounds and is built more like a tight end than a typical shooting guard.
Dec 11, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) looks for a shot against Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Reserve forward Jeremy Sochan has not factored into the rotation as much this year, but he is another player, at 6-foot-8, who would put the Bucks largely out of position. Bobby Portis might be the best fit to defend Sochan or starting forward Harrison Barnes without Kuzma available or parking Giannis on Barnes in the initial lineups. While Barnes is small for a four, Julian Champagnie, the Spurs’ projected starting three, is another player who could put Bucks defenders in a pickle simply due to stature.
Even San Antonio’s guards, like Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper, have size, length, and explosiveness that may prove problematic for Trent or Green. It’s not like Kuzma is Defensive Player of the Year (or an octopus who can simultaneously defend all awkward matchups). But his absence, even though he’s been coming off the bench, would disrupt the Bucks’ entire defensive scheme.
Kuzma shouldn’t be that important to anyone, but for all his flaws, because of Milwaukee’s dearth of wing defenders, he is. More than anything, perhaps, whether he plays or not, the legitimate concerns over his availability should remind the Bucks that acquiring two-way wing help by the trade deadline needs to be a top priority.
Dec 14, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) dribbles the ball defended by Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Drake Powell (4) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
On the season, Kuzma is averaging 12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 51% from the field. Due to a dry wing market in general, he could supply above expected value as an outgoing piece in any Bucks trade.
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