Honestly, looking at the Fiserv Forum rafters right now feels a bit like staring at a "Greatest Hits" album while the current band is struggling to stay in tune. It’s mid-January 2026, and the Milwaukee Bucks roster 2025 is a weird, disjointed puzzle that hasn't quite clicked the way Jon Horst hoped when he started moving mountains last summer.
We’re sitting here with a 17-24 record. 11th in the East. Below the Play-In line.
If you told a Bucks fan two years ago that Giannis Antetokounmpo would be healthy and averaging 28.8 points per game, but the team would be staring at a lottery pick, they’d think you were crazy. But that's the reality of a roster that has undergone a massive, somewhat desperate transformation. The Damian Lillard era ended with a whimper—waived and stretched after that brutal Achilles tear—leaving a $22.5 million hole of "dead money" on the books this season.
The 2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks Roster Explained (Simply)
The starting lineup is basically a "Who's Who" of "Wait, he's a Buck now?" Myles Turner is the big name they brought in during free agency to replace the Lillard-sized void. On paper, it was perfect. A shot-blocker who can stretch the floor. In practice? Turner is averaging a career-low 5.3 rebounds and only 12.2 points. The defensive spacing is better, sure, but the "oomph" just isn't there.
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Then you’ve got Kyle Kuzma. He came over in that chaotic three-team trade from Washington last February. He’s making $22.4 million this year, and while he’s talented, the fit next to Giannis has been... clunky. Some nights he looks like the perfect secondary scorer; other nights he’s shooting 4-for-15 and looking lost in Doc Rivers' offensive sets.
The Current Depth Chart
Here is how the rotation is actually shaking out as of January 18, 2026:
- Point Guard: Ryan Rollins has actually been the breakout story, starting most games and averaging over 16 points. Kevin Porter Jr. is the high-upside backup (or co-starter) who is leading the team in assists (7.5) and steals (2.2). Cole Anthony provides some spark off the bench.
- Shooting Guard: A.J. Green has fully evolved into a "don't leave him open" threat, shooting a scorching 43.4% from three. Gary Trent Jr. and Gary Harris are the vets rotating in, though Harris is mostly here for salary-matching purposes in future trades.
- Small Forward: This is where it gets thin. Taurean Prince is out after neck surgery. That leaves Amir Coffey, Andre Jackson Jr., and the Antetokounmpo brothers (Thanasis and Alex) to patch up the wing.
- Power Forward: Giannis, obviously. Bobby Portis is still the heart of the bench, though his defense has become a massive liability this year.
- Center: Myles Turner starts, with Jericho Sims providing the "bruiser" minutes off the bench.
The Trade Deadline Fever Dream
The trade deadline is February 5, and the rumors are flying. Everyone knows the Bucks only have one tradeable first-round pick left (either 2031 or 2032). It’s the last bullet in the chamber.
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There’s a lot of talk about Sacramento’s Zach LaVine. A mock trade recently suggested sending Kuzma, Portis, and Andre Jackson Jr. to the Kings for LaVine. It’s a "swing for the fences" move. Would it save the season? Maybe. LaVine is averaging nearly 20 points a game, but that contract is a beast, and his injury history is enough to make any GM sweat.
Honestly, the most depressing part for fans isn't even the record. It’s the "Giannis Trade Rumors." ESPN’s Jamal Collier recently reported that while the Bucks have told teams Giannis isn't available, rival executives are circling like sharks. Giannis has a player option for 2027-28. If this 2025 roster can't even make the playoffs, does he stay? He loves Milwaukee. He doesn't want to alienate the fans. But he's 31. He wants to win.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Roster
People keep saying the Bucks are "old." That's not entirely true anymore. Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton are gone. The core—outside of Giannis and Turner—is actually fairly young. Ryan Rollins is 23. Kevin Porter Jr. is 25. A.J. Green is 26.
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The problem isn't age; it's identity.
Under Mike Budenholzer, you knew what the Bucks were. Under Doc Rivers, this group looks like a collection of talented individuals who met in the parking lot twenty minutes before tip-off. They’re 26th in the league in points per game. For a team with Giannis Antetokounmpo, that is borderline offensive.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half
If the Bucks are going to save this season—and potentially the Giannis era—they need to do three things immediately:
- Commit to the Youth: Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. have more chemistry with Giannis than the vets do. Give them the keys and let them run.
- Move the "Clutter": Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis are great players, but if the fit isn't there by February, you have to move them for a wing defender who doesn't need the ball.
- Fix the Myles Turner Usage: You can't pay a guy $25 million to stand in the corner and grab five rebounds. Rivers has to find a way to get Turner involved in the pick-and-roll without clogging the lane for Giannis.
The clock is ticking. Monday’s game against Atlanta is a must-win. If the Milwaukee Bucks roster 2025 doesn't start showing some life, that 2032 draft pick might be the only thing the front office has left to talk about.
Keep an eye on the injury report for the next few games. Giannis has been nursing a left ankle sprain, and with Taurean Prince still out, the bench is being stretched to its absolute breaking point. This isn't just a slump; it's a crossroads for the entire franchise.