Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have endured a rough season. The team sits 11th in the Eastern Conference, eight games below .500, while Giannis has dealt with constant injuries. On top of that, the Bucks won’t regain control of their first-round draft pick until 2031, though they do have a pick swap available this season.
Another report, however, suggests the Giannis conversation may be reaching a turning point, as Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel addressed the situation in a recent article.
“One of the disappointing sidebars to this dismal Bucks season is the lack of public availability & accountability from the recently extended GM Jon Horst. Instead, Giannis bore the brunt of so many questions that were the consequence of decisions of his boss, Horst,” Nickel reported.
“[GM Jon Horst] Ducking those questions also seemed to put more pressure on [Giannis] and that wasn’t fair. He talked after every game this season except one, fielding literally every and all kinds of questions. Giannis never excused himself…That’s accountability.”
Jon Horst and his mismanagement of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks
The Bucks’ all-star contingent of (from left) Khris Middleton, head coach Mike Budenholzer and Giannis Antetokounmpo pose for photos along with general manager Jon Horst before Milwaukee’s game against Orlando on Saturday.
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Horst’s issues start with his draft record. The Bucks already moved on from their No. 23 and No. 33 selections from the 2024 NBA Draft, and a review of past drafts offers few examples of players who developed into reliable rotation pieces, let alone long-term building blocks.
Beyond issues with drafting and player development, the Bucks have created more instability by constantly reshuffling their coaching staff. Milwaukee fired Adrian Griffin despite a 30–13 record and replaced him with Doc Rivers, even though he was not the team’s original target. That move, layered on top of poor draft results and mismanaged assets, has further dragged the franchise in the wrong direction.
Giannis Antetokounmpo shaking Jon Horst’s hand after signing his record extension.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s tenure in Milwaukee is starting to look like it’s winding down, with several NBA front offices now operating as if the Bucks are nearing a crossroads. If the franchise does move on, it would end one of the most important eras in team history on a disappointing note, as Antetokounmpo has shouldered the burden of a roster that has failed to keep up with his level of play.
That possibility leaves Jon Horst staring at a massive assignment: identifying the next face of the franchise, restocking a depleted asset cupboard, and finally turning draft nights into real progress as Milwaukee prepares for a full-scale reset.