ESPN writer Jamal Collier has identified the Milwaukee Bucks as the franchise “most likely to take a tumble” during the 2025-26 NBA season, citing growing questions about the team’s roster around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In Collier’s assessment, Milwaukee’s competitive window appears to be narrowing despite Antetokounmpo’s continued excellence. The gap between the forward and the rest of the lineup remains “striking,” he wrote, even after the Bucks made what he called an “unprecedented” free-agent move by landing center Myles Turner.
The offseason overhaul also included waiving guard Damian Lillard, who returned to the Portland Trail Blazers while recovering from injury. Collier described the decision to swap Lillard for Turner as a last-ditch effort to extend Antetokounmpo’s prime.
Without a clear secondary star, Collier said Milwaukee’s strategy hinges on the 29-year-old Antetokounmpo carrying a significant workload. The Bucks employed a similar approach last year, when they opened 2-8, clawed back to reach the playoffs and were eliminated in the first round.
Whether the club can withstand another slow start is uncertain. Collier questioned how much patience and confidence the organization will have if early losses mount once more.
Despite the concerns, reports out of Houston this summer indicated the Bucks have told rival teams, including the Rockets, that Antetokounmpo is not available in trade discussions.
Source: Hoops Wire
