Giannis Antetokounmpo remains a superstar, but he won’t be able to carry the Milwaukee Bucks alone next season.
The franchise is facing serious depth issues after abandoning All-Star Guard Damian Lillard before this offseason.
The Milwaukee Bucks have not met that void and could become one of the league’s worst teams if Giannis is injured.
They added Miles Turner, who was successful in Indiana last season, but Giannis Antetocomo needs more offensive support.
Kyle Kuzma could possibly appear as a key contributor to Milwaukee next season despite his disappointing debut campaign. His numbers were not impressive, but the situation explains his struggle.
Kuzma joined the Bucks in early February through the trade that sent Frith Middleton to Washington, giving him limited time to adapt to his new expectations.
NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor believes Kuzma’s struggle could be exempt given the dramatic shift in expectations from Washington to Milwaukee.
“I think it’s fair to give him the pass from last season. It’s hard to start suddenly gaining expectations, as you lose for the fourth year in a row without expecting it,” O’Connor explained.
After the trade, Kuzma played 33 games, averaging 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists. These figures have been significantly reduced compared to previous production in Washington.
Reports from the NBA circles suggest that Kuzma is working hard this offseason, indicating possible improvements for the second Milwaukee season.
Scoring output from Kuzma Milwaukee’s needs already exist in his recent track record. His Washington figures prove that he can become a legitimate second scoring option when properly utilised.
During the 2023-24 season in Washington, Kuzma averaged 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists, shooting 33.6% from the 3-point range. That level of production helps significantly reduce Giannis’ scoring burden.
O’Connor dismisses criticism of Kuzma’s work ethic and character and defends the forward’s level of commitment and effort.
“Maybe he wasn’t in the best form. I think there’s this perception of Kuzma that he’s lazy or doesn’t care. No, I think Kuzma is a good guy, a good teammate and a real person,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor believes that proper offseason conditioning will determine Kuzma’s success in Milwaukee. Physical preparation is important to meet championship-level expectations.
“If he’s in the gym to be in the perfect shape for this summer, he’s supposed to bounce back,” he added.
The analyst’s confidence stems from Kuzma’s proven ability to produce when healthy and focused. His Washington success was not a coincidence, but a result of consistent effort and opportunity.
Reliable secondary scoring will become essential as Lillard disappears and Giannis could handle more point guard missions. Kuzma’s 22-point average solves Milwaukee’s biggest offensive problem.
Giannis’ future with the Bucks remains uncertain amid ongoing trade speculation. If he stays and assumes responsibility for the expanded playmaking, Kuzma will need to step up as the main scoring complement.