CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 26: Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket around center Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Rocket Arena on October 26, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks have unofficially wrapped up the first week of the NBA season — and the hot takes are already flying.
Milwaukee took care of business against the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors, two teams they were supposed to beat, before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. A 2-1 start isn’t groundbreaking, but it revealed plenty about the version of the Bucks we’ll see this season.
They’ve also already started their annual dance with the injury gods. Kevin Porter Jr. sprained his ankle in the opener and missed the next two games. Kyle Kuzma went down with an ankle sprain of his own against Toronto and didn’t play against the Cavs. Cole Anthony sat out versus Cleveland due to illness.
The good news is that none appear to be serious.
With three more games on deck this week — against the Knicks, Warriors, and Kings — it’s time to take stock of what we’ve learned so far from Week 1.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Somehow Still Underrated
After two games, Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history to record 60+ points, 30+ rebounds, and 10+ assists through two games. After three, he was the first ever to notch 100+ points, 40+ rebounds, and 15+ assists.
Antetokounmpo single-handedly willed Milwaukee to its two wins and nearly dragged them back from the dead against Cleveland.
Down 16 midway through the third quarter, he launched one of those trademark Giannis flurries — a turnaround jumper, a finger roll, a pair of layups, a three-pointer, and a transition dunk off a steal — shrinking the lead to two by quarter’s end.
Although it didn’t result in a win, the performance was quintessential Giannis: relentless, efficient, and quietly historic. And somehow, it barely registered in the national conversation.
At this point, it feels like the league has become numb to his brilliance. We’re witnessing one of the most productive starts to a season in NBA history — again — and it’s barely a headline. Maybe that’s the truest sign of greatness: when the impossible becomes routine.
Myles Turner’s Shot Will Come — Everything Else Already Has
With Indiana melting down to start its season, some Pacers fans have turned their attention to Myles Turner’s slow start in Milwaukee. Through three games, he’s averaging 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting an ice-cold 23.5 percent from deep. (Who had Giannis matching Turner’s three-point total through one week on their bingo card?)
The misses stand out because the looks are clean. Milwaukee’s offense is generating plenty of open shots for Turner; they just haven’t fallen yet. That’s fine. He’s a career 36-percent shooter from beyond the arc — regression to the mean is coming.
All the other things he brings are already there.
Turner’s communication has been constant — calling out coverages, directing traffic, and mentoring younger teammates. His passing has quietly been a nice wrinkle, especially in high-low actions with Giannis. The chemistry isn’t perfect yet, but the idea is tantalizing.
And defensively, he’s doing exactly what Milwaukee envisioned when they signed him. He’s anchoring the paint, contesting shots, and giving Antetokounmpo more freedom to roam and disrupt.
The shot will return. Everything else is already paying dividends.
The Bucks Are Scrappy As H-E-Double Hockey Sticks
For the first time in years, Milwaukee isn’t the hunted. They’re the hunters. And they’re playing like it.
Friday’s win over Toronto was a mud fight — ugly, physical, chaotic. The Raptors thrive on that kind of game, but the Bucks didn’t flinch. They embraced the mess and came out tougher.
Even Sunday’s loss to Cleveland showed that fight. Down multiple key players, Milwaukee still clawed its way back into contention late. They’re playing with a collective chip — diving for loose balls, rotating with urgency, and making life miserable for opponents.
It’s a welcome change in energy from last season’s disjointed stretch. This team looks younger, hungrier, and far more connected.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2025/10/27/what-we-learned-from-milwaukee-bucks-first-week-of-the-nba-season/
