After profitable the NBA championship in 2021, the Milwaukee Bucks have had a tough couple of years.
They misplaced within the first spherical of the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, and so they began 2-8 this season, which brought about individuals to marvel if celebrity Giannis Antetokounmpo might want out.
However since then, they’ve gone 26-16, and though they’ve misplaced seven of their final 10 video games, they must be considered as a darkish horse crew within the Jap Convention.
ESPN character Kendrick Perkins took issues one step additional and stated the Bucks can do higher than be a darkish horse crew.
“Can the Bucks get to the NBA Finals? … I consider they’ll,” Perkins stated.
“Can the Bucks get to the NBA Finals? … I consider they’ll.”@kendrickperkins on Milwaukee after their current strikes on the commerce deadline 💪 pic.twitter.com/BhxwYFuyXG
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 13, 2025
Pekins cited Milwaukee’s acquisitions of Kyle Kuzma and guard Kevin Porter Jr. as the explanation why the crew could make some critical noise this spring.
It gave up a bundle centered round Khris Middleton, who was a key member of its 2021 championship crew however has usually been injured since, to get Kuzma, who’s 4 years youthful and extra sturdy.
Kuzma will not be the dependable 3-point shooter that Middleton is, however he has a profession common of 17.2 factors a recreation and has improved his protection, rebounding and passing since coming into the NBA seven years in the past.
In the summertime of 2023, Milwaukee made a franchise-altering transfer by buying and selling for future Corridor of Fame level guard Damian Lillard, and he’s lastly wanting snug and productive with the Bucks.
It will likely be troublesome for them to get previous the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and the defending world champion Boston Celtics, however Antetokounmpo and Lillard ought to, on the very least, give them a puncher’s probability of doing so.
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