The Milwaukee Bucks are making headlines once again, and this time it’s not just for their play on the court. After months of swirling rumors and a rough patch in December, the Bucks have managed to string together back-to-back wins for the first time since late October, with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the heart of their resurgence. But with trade rumors, injury woes, and a roster in flux, the question lingers: can Milwaukee turn things around before the clock runs out on this season?
On December 29, 2025, the Bucks traveled to Charlotte and secured a hard-fought 123-113 win over the Hornets. Bobby Portis was electric off the bench, pouring in 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Giannis Antetokounmpo chipped in 24 points and seven assists. Myles Turner added 23 points, and Kevin Porter Jr. notched a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists. For the Hornets, Brandon Miller’s 31 points and eight rebounds and LaMelo Ball’s 26 points weren’t enough to overcome a Milwaukee team hungry for momentum.
This victory marked the Bucks’ first set of consecutive wins since October 28–30, when they toppled the Knicks and Warriors. It’s a small streak, but in a season that’s been anything but smooth, it feels monumental. The Bucks have struggled to find consistency, particularly during Antetokounmpo’s recent three-week absence, where they limped to a 2-6 record and fell to 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. The win in Charlotte followed a statement victory over the Chicago Bulls just a day prior—a game that was about far more than the final score.
Against Chicago, Antetokounmpo returned to action and immediately made his presence felt, scoring 29 points in just 25 minutes on a minutes restriction. But it was his final act—a thunderous windmill dunk with seven seconds left and the game already in hand—that set off fireworks. The Bulls took exception, and a heated confrontation erupted at center court. Benches cleared, security hustled, and the crowd at United Center rained down boos as Antetokounmpo made his way to the tunnel, offering a defiant thumbs-down to the Chicago faithful.
“I’ve been 13 years in the league,” Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game, as quoted by ESPN. “If we keep on losing, brother, probably half of the team is not going to be here. At the end of the day, I just want to be available, be healthy and help my team win. And if [a windmill dunk] is what has to happen for everybody to wake up and understand we’re fighting for our lives and we got to get our hands dirty, so be it.”
The Bucks have been under a microscope since early December, when an ESPN report revealed that Antetokounmpo and his agent had reopened conversations about his future in Milwaukee. Trade rumors have swirled relentlessly, but both Antetokounmpo and head coach Doc Rivers have repeatedly shot down suggestions that the two-time MVP has asked out. “Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever. I can’t make that more clear,” Rivers said in a press conference before a recent game against Detroit.
Still, the pressure is real. The Bucks have only one first-round pick (in 2031 or 2032) available to trade and limited assets outside of Antetokounmpo and Turner. The front office, led by general manager Jon Horst, has been actively exploring the trade market for reinforcements, with names like Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, and Jerami Grant reportedly on their radar. The goal is to give Antetokounmpo enough help to keep the team competitive, especially with the February 5 trade deadline looming.
Despite the uncertainty, Antetokounmpo remains a force of nature. He’s averaging 28.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game this season—numbers that put him in rare company alongside Nikola Jokic as the only players averaging at least 25-10-5. He’s on pace to average 30-10-5 for the fourth straight season, a feat only Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson have accomplished twice in NBA history, according to ESPN Research.
Yet the Bucks’ supporting cast has struggled to step up when their leader is sidelined. Milwaukee is just 3-11 without Antetokounmpo this season, and the team’s struggles have exposed the gap between their current form and true championship contention. The Bucks’ last deep playoff run came in 2021, when they captured the NBA title. Since then, they’ve managed just one playoff series win in three years, falling short of expectations and fueling speculation about Antetokounmpo’s long-term commitment.
“You’ve just got to give urgency to the team. Like, ‘Guys, this is serious,’” Antetokounmpo said earlier this month. “Who are we trying to be? We’ve got to turn this around. We have time to turn this around. And you’ve got to have a little bit more urgency.”
Coach Rivers echoed that sentiment after the win in Charlotte, emphasizing that the team needs to improve across the board—not just rely on their superstar. “We have a chance to make a run here, but it’s not going to happen overnight. And we need more than just Giannis coming back. We all have to play better, coach better, run better, rebound better. We have to do a lot of things better for us to turn the corner. ... And obviously, having Giannis back helps a lot.”
The Bucks’ recent victories have injected some much-needed confidence into the locker room. Bobby Portis, who has emerged as a vital spark plug, summed up the team’s mood: “Any team when you get your best player back, it gives you kind of a different life.” Kevin Porter Jr. added, “There’s a lot of noise. But our job is to block it out and stay together.”
Off the court, the Bucks have tried to foster unity with team dinners and meetings, hoping to recapture the camaraderie that fueled their championship run. After the win in Chicago, the squad gathered at Maple & Ash for a celebratory meal, savoring not just the food but the sense of togetherness that has felt elusive during this turbulent stretch.
Meanwhile, the injury bug continues to bite. The Hornets, who were already missing starters Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner, lost Miles Bridges to an ankle injury in the first quarter against Milwaukee. Despite being undersized, Charlotte managed to outrebound the Bucks 47-31, but couldn’t capitalize down the stretch as Milwaukee leaned on Turner and Antetokounmpo to close the game out inside.
With 50 games left in the regular season and the playoff picture still wide open, the Bucks will need to build on this momentum if they hope to climb the standings and convince their superstar to stay the course. Their next test comes at home against the Washington Wizards, while the Hornets will look to regroup against the Golden State Warriors.
For now, the Bucks have quieted the noise—at least for a few days. But with the trade deadline approaching and expectations sky-high, the pressure isn’t going anywhere. The only way out is through, and Milwaukee knows it’s going to take more than a couple of wins to change the narrative for good.
