The Milwaukee Bucks just took a hit to their depth, as reserve center Jericho Sims is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. He underwent surgery Monday morning to fix a torn ligament in his right thumb. That’s not exactly great news for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, especially with their playoff spot still up in the air. The Play-In Tournament tips off on April 15, with the NBA playoffs following soon after on April 19.
The Bucks are not exactly a young squad. Damian Lillard hits 35 this year, while Brook Lopez is already 36 and will turn 37 soon. Taurean Prince is about to celebrate his 31st birthday this week, and even Giannis isn’t far behind—he turns 31 in December.
And age is catching up to the Greek Freak. After saying, “I don’t care if it’s a back-to-back or three games in a row.”, when the Bucks won against the Pacers, Giannis is certainly regretting those words. Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports the 8x All-Star discussed how demanding it was to play center during the six-game stretch before the trade deadline.
Injuries piling up force Doc Rivers to rely on the 2x MVP at center—despite the physical toll that position takes on him.
Oct 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers talks with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
“We don’t have a balance right now,” Rivers admitted. “Bottom line, if Brook’s off the floor, we don’t have another five on our team. Bobby was the five, Jericho was the five, and now we have zero fives (outside of Brook).”
Losing key players has not only thinned out Milwaukee’s bench but also left the team scrambling for solutions. With no natural backup center available, Rivers has had to get creative with his rotations.
“So, it just really makes us a thin bench, a thin basketball team,” he continued. “Giannis will have to play five, and we’re not opposed to putting Kuz at the five, which is crazy, but it is what it is.”
He also made clear that overextending Brook Lopez isn’t a viable solution. Rivers reviewed the six-game stretch without Bobby Portis before the trade deadline and admitted he wasn’t pleased with how events unfolded. Portis since then has been suspended for 25 games after violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.
“I didn’t like the Brook minutes,” Rivers stated. “I just thought it was too many minutes, and we’re going to try to avoid that.”
With limited options at center, Lopez was forced to take on a heavier workload, something Rivers knows isn’t sustainable long-term. While the veteran big man has been a key piece for Milwaukee, Rivers emphasized that running him into the ground isn’t the answer.
While Antetokounmpo has voiced concerns about the wear and tear that comes with playing the five, the Bucks may have no other option as they fight to stay competitive. With the playoffs approaching, Rivers will have to make tough calls to keep his team afloat.
One of those decisions? The coaching staff must figure out why they bench young players like Ryan Rollins and Andre Jackson Jr. when their energy could make a difference.
Fresh pair of legs could help Giannis Antetokounmpo and Doc Rivers
With the playoffs closing in, the Bucks face tough decisions—they must explain why they leave Ryan Rollins and Andre Jackson Jr. on the bench when their energy could ignite the team. Giannis Antetokounmpo has already spoken out about the physical toll of playing center, but Milwaukee may not have much choice as they try to stay afloat.
Sunday’s loss to OKC only made things more frustrating. Rollins and Jackson Jr. didn’t get minutes until the fourth quarter, long after Doc Rivers had waved the white flag. The contrast from their last matchup in December was glaring. Jackson Jr. started that game, played 26 minutes, and helped hold an elite Thunder offense to just 81 points. He even made life tough for MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, forcing him into 8-of-24 shooting for 21 points. That night, the Bucks won by 16. This time? They lost by the same margin.
Mar 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates with Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Milwaukee’s aging roster desperately needs fresh legs. Jackson Jr. might not be a scoring machine, but his defense is elite. Rollins, meanwhile, is averaging five points per game—outscoring Pat Connaughton while playing nearly three minutes less per game.
Yet, Rivers continues to lean on veterans, which is probably why GM Jon Horst brought him in. But if the Bucks want a deep playoff run, they can’t afford to waste their young talent. It’s time to get Rollins and Jackson Jr. back in the rotation.
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