Since winning the 2021 NBA title, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have faced disappointment. The Bucks have not advanced past the second round. In both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, they exited in the first round, including a loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Following their first-round loss in 2023, the Bucks vowed to improve and set out to make one of the biggest offseason moves that year.
What Moves Did the Bucks Make this Offseason?
During the 2023 offseason, the Bucks believed that acquiring Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, a likely future Hall-of-Fame player, could end their postseason woes. However, the Bucks still suffered a first-round elimination with Lillard, culminating in his Achilles tear during the 2025 first-round loss to the Pacers. With Lillard unlikely to play this season, the Bucks waived him and used the stretch provision to pay out the remaining $113 million on his deal. They then used the available cap space to sign Pacers big man Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract.
Turner and the Bucks have struggled. He is averaging 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds, shooting a career-low 41.4%.
Milwaukee re-signed Bobby Portis and Gary Trent Jr., and added Taurean Prince, along with former Magic guards Cole Anthony and Gary Harris.
All these offseason moves led into the 2025-26 season, where the Bucks started out 13-19.
Now, their star wants to turn things around, and he has his ideas for how to do just that.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Wants Bucks to Get Their ‘Hands Dirty’
Late in a win over Chicago, Antetokounmpo’s emphatic windmill dunk nearly sparked a brawl, exposing the team’s intensity.
“I ain’t no painter but you get the picture,” Antetokounmpo posted on X.
Postgame, Antetokounmpo explained his motivation to reporters.
“Are we 11th in the East or 12th? We just gotta keep finding our identity,” Antetokounmpo said. “If we need to get a little scrappy at the end, so be it. We’re not the champs. Why should we have ‘play the clock out and have respect and fair play’, like we’re fighting for our lives right now.”
Giannis with the quote of the season:
“Are we 11th in the East or 12th? We just gotta keep finding our identity. If we need to get a little scrappy at the end, so be it. We’re not the champs. Why should we have ‘play the clock out and have respect and fair play’, like we’re… pic.twitter.com/BiIvyeL9kL
— Bucks Lead (@BucksLead) December 28, 2025
Despite missing 14 games, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on 64.1% shooting.
Antetokounmpo said the Bucks must urgently change course or brace for dramatic roster shakeups.
“This is real talk,” Antetokounmpo explained. “I’ve been 13 years in the league. If we keep on losing brother, probably half of the team won’t be here, we’re not going to make the playoffs. I really don’t care. I just want to be available, be healthy and help my team win. And if [the windmill dunk] is what has to happen for everyone to wake up and understand we are fighting for our lives and we gotta get our hands dirty, then so be it.”
Of course, with the Bucks’ struggles, there have been rumors that Antetokounmpo’s days in Milwaukee could be numbered.
Antetokounmpo clearly wants more grit from Milwaukee. If his approach sparks a turnaround, the postseason remains within reach.
