Since their 2021 championship, the Milwaukee Bucks have experienced a sharp decline, marked by risky trades and front-office choices that have mortgaged the franchise’s future.
The record over the past few years is damning: a squandered Conference Semifinal in 2022 followed by three consecutive first-round eliminations. Since that 2021 title run, the Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee seems to have faded without any further highlights.
A slow but steady downfall that deserves to be revisited.
February 10, 2022 – The DiVincenzo Trade
The Bucks traded DiVincenzo and Hood – key players off the bench – to the Kings and Clippers, receiving only a past-his-prime Ibaka in return. A move that weakened their bench depth and took dynamism away from the guard rotation without adding real value. Serge Ibaka, far from his prime, failed to make any impact, making the trade feel rushed and short-sighted.
May 15, 2022 – Eliminated by the Celtics
Up 3–2 in the series, Milwaukee failed to close it out and suffered a brutal comeback. Game 6 and Game 7 turned into nightmares: two heavy losses that marked yet another disappointing exit and left both fans and players with a bitter taste.
February 9, 2023 – Betting the Future
Involved in the four-team blockbuster that sent Durant to the Suns, the Bucks gave up Hill and Ibaka to the Pacers and sacrificed three picks across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 drafts. A costly move that brought no immediate return and further drained future resources.
April 26, 2023 – First-Round Exit Against the Heat
The title now felt like a distant memory: the Bucks bowed out in the first round to the 8th-seeded Heat. Giannis downplayed the loss, framing it as growth rather than failure, but results continued to fall short.
May 5, 2023 – Budenholzer Fired
Disappointment ran deep in the front office. After a first-round exit where the team didn’t even compete, drastic action was taken. Mike Budenholzer was fired, replaced by Adrian Griffin, tasked with reviving a team that had lost its winning identity.
September 27, 2023 – The Lillard Trade
Jrue Holiday and three first-round picks (2028, 2029, 2030) were sent to the Blazers for Damian Lillard, while Allen went to the Suns. A bold move that never quite paid off, leaving Milwaukee with more questions than answers.
January 23, 2024 – Griffin Dismissed
Adrian Griffin was out after just half a season – a short and troubled tenure that seemingly failed to win over even Giannis. Enter Doc Rivers, brought in to try and restore the team’s lost competitiveness.
April 27, 2024 – Another First-Round Exit
A second straight first-round elimination. Giannis missed the entire series against Indiana, and Lillard was out for three games. Once again, the Bucks exited early, another failure adding to the uncertainty surrounding the team’s direction.
April 30, 2025 – The End of the “Giannis” Era
One year later, history repeated itself: eliminated once again by the Pacers, again without Lillard. A third consecutive first-round exit, this time likely marking the final chapter of the Giannis era in Milwaukee. The future now feels more uncertain than ever.
Milwaukee is at a crossroads: rebuild around Giannis or turn the page entirely. The time for celebration is long gone, and bold decisions are already overdue. The franchise must now choose whether to try and retool- or come to terms with the end of a once-glorious era that risks being remembered with regret.
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Author: Team Dunkest
May 1, 2025 | 11:00 am
