The Milwaukee Bucks are about to begin their second season with the Giannis Antetokounmpo–Damian Lillard pairing. Former NBA player-turned-analyst and pundit Kendrick Perkins is calling on the All-Star duo to bury all excuses and win. Does Milwaukee have everything it needs to win this season? Perkins seems to believe so.
NBA Today’s Kendrick Perkins Heaps All the Pressure on Milwaukee
No More Excuses
Whatever your opinions of the NBA Today star are, Perkins does have some solid insight at times, and he may be right about the Bucks going into this brand-new 2024-25 NBA campaign. Last year, an off-season trade brought the Portland-loyal, eight-time NBA All-Star Lillard to the Bucks after 11 years with the Trail Blazers. The hype was there, and so were the expectations. However, last season resembled more of a jumbled mess than a perfect mesh. Coaching changes, injuries, chemistry issues, and another way-too-early playoff exit ended a disappointing Bucks season.
With Milwaukee set to open their regular season against the Philadelphia 76ers next Wednesday, Giannis and Dame will give it another go, only this time, with hopefully better overall results. During a segment on NBA Today, NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins was asked what his outlook on the Bucks season was, considering last year he accused Giannis, Lillard, and Doc Rivers of ushering a continuous array of excuses. Listen to what Big Perk said beginning at the 2:00 mark of the shows Coast to Coast segment where he goes off on the Bucks and why he labeled this year’s team as “excuseless.”
“…that’s the word of the day when it comes down to the Milwaukee Bucks this season…lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of excuses from you [Rivers].” Perkins continued his rant by saying, “Last season, all I heard was excuses, this season, none from the Milwaukee Bucks. I don’t wanna hear them from Doc, I don’t wanna hear them from Dame, I don’t wanna hear them from Giannis. Go out there and perform and make some noise and get it done.”
The NBA analyst didn’t hold back, but as mentioned earlier, he has a point. Last season, despite the distractions, chemistry issues, etc., there were a lot of excuses coming from the team. Much of those excuses came from Rivers. Well, this year, a second year under him and a healthy squad, there is no more room for excuses.
Milwaukee Has What They Need
On paper, the Bucks have one of the top starting five lineups in the league. Giannis, Dame, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and most likely free agent signing Gary Trent Jr. are a pretty impressive starting five. The Bucks depth is no sad song either with Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, and Taurean Prince. Could they use some more depth? Yes, for sure. And if the Bucks find themselves in the middle of it come the trade deadline, they’ll address that, I’m sure. On paper, a Giannis and Dame duo looks and perceives to be electric, yet last year it wasn’t, all things considered.
The Greek Freak is still a menace and monster with the ball in his hands. Dame can still shoot the lights out. Suppose Middleton can remain healthy, and Lopez doesn’t lose too much of his game (the sixteen-year vet is no spring chicken) as the season wanes. Milwaukee has no reason not to contend for a title. They should also have no excuses for playing up to Boston or Philadelphia’s level. Their best bet is to shed last season and get their chemistry right.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo still in his prime and a killer shooter at his side, the Bucks are more than a formidable team. They just have to go out there and win—no excuses.
