For a long time, it felt like Giannis Antetokounmpo was headed down the path of the NBA lifer - the kind of player who becomes synonymous with a single franchise. Think Dirk in Dallas, Kobe in L.A., Duncan in San Antonio.
Giannis and Milwaukee? That bond looked just as unbreakable.
The Bucks built everything around him, and for a while, it worked. They were perennial contenders, crowned with a championship in 2021, and the future looked as bright as the Greek Freak’s trophy case.
But the NBA moves fast, and the last few seasons have been anything but smooth in Milwaukee. Since that title run, the Bucks have bowed out in the first round three straight times.
The roster’s been shuffled, the coaching staff revamped, and the team’s identity - once built on toughness, defense, and Giannis’ relentless motor - has started to fray. And when you watch Giannis lately, you can see it: the frustration is real.
Assistant coach Rajon Rondo, who joined the Bucks’ staff in 2024, recently shed some light on what’s going on behind the scenes. During a conversation with Kevin Garnett on KG Certified, Rondo didn’t mince words.
“To me, we just haven’t bought into everybody starring in their role consistently enough,” he said. “That’s the frustrating part.”
It’s a telling quote, especially coming from someone like Rondo - a former champion who’s seen locker rooms at their best and worst. He’s been around long enough to know what makes a team click, and what causes it to unravel. And right now, it sounds like Milwaukee’s struggling with the latter.
Rondo also pointed to Giannis’ recent absences as another factor. “Big fella missed a lot of games,” he noted, adding that the team is still trying to figure out how to perform without their MVP on the floor.
That’s been a recurring issue all season. When Giannis sits, the Bucks have looked vulnerable - and opponents have taken full advantage.
The season started with a glimmer of hope. Milwaukee jumped out to a 4-1 record, and for a moment, it looked like maybe the pieces were falling into place.
The plan was clear: Giannis would be the centerpiece, as always, but the supporting cast would need to step up, especially in the absence of another All-NBA-level co-star. But that early promise didn’t last.
Between mid-November and mid-December, the Bucks dropped 13 of 16 games. That brutal stretch knocked them out of the Play-In picture and exposed just how thin the margin for error is.
The depth hasn’t held up. The defense isn’t what it used to be.
And when Giannis isn’t on the court, there’s a noticeable drop in energy, cohesion, and execution.
Rondo acknowledged that the pressure is only intensifying with the trade deadline looming. “It’s magnified now because of the trade deadline and rumors here and there,” he said.
“Even though it’s a small market, it’s still Giannis’ team. We’re going through it, but it’s the NBA grind.
Every season, you can’t win a championship. Again, we do have some great pieces.”
That’s the balancing act Milwaukee is facing right now. They’ve got a generational talent in Giannis - a two-time MVP, Finals MVP, and one of the most dominant two-way players the league has ever seen. But they’re also staring down the reality that the window to win with him might be closing faster than they thought.
If the Bucks believe there’s still one more deep playoff run left in this core, the time to act is now. The front office can’t afford to sit back and hope things turn around on their own. They need to make a move - one that’s bold enough to change the trajectory of the season and convincing enough to show Giannis that Milwaukee is still serious about contending.
Because if they don’t, the consequences could be far bigger than just another early playoff exit.