Bucks famous person Giannis Antetokounmpo was dominant in his preseason debut on Thursday vs. the Lakers, observes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. As Nehm writes, Antetokounmpo sat out Milwaukee’s preseason opener on Sunday, so Thursday marked his first NBA motion since he injured his left calf in April, prematurely ending his 2023/24 season.
The 2-time MVP was again to regular Thursday, recording 20 factors, seven rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes. A kind of blocks — a chase-down of LeBron James — made the spotlight reels. It was an encouraging signal for Milwaukee, which has had disappointing first-round playoff exits in every of the previous two seasons, partially on account of Antetokounmpo’s premature accidents.
Right here’s extra on the Bucks:
- Huge man Bobby Portis continued to his scorching-hot capturing Thursday, Nehm notes. Portis, who completed third in Sixth Man of the Yr for the second straight season in ’23/24, has scored 39 factors in 28 preseason minutes, together with 9-of-10 from three-point vary. “My greatest factor this summer time was to get within the fitness center and simply work,” Portis stated as half of a bigger quote. “I labored each f—— day of my life this summer time, like a madman, bro. I simply need my work to indicate on the court docket. So hopefully, it simply interprets in preseason. However I’m simply taking part in with confidence and going on the market and being who I’m. I put numerous work into my craft.”
- Rookie guard AJ Johnson struggled in his preseason debut Sunday vs. Detroit, however he performed with a significantly better rhythm Thursday, Nehm provides in the identical story. “The largest factor with him, man, is simply making an attempt to inform him simply to decelerate,” Portis stated of Johnson. “Clearly, if you first get into the league, you’re type of taking part in ultra-fast and also you don’t know that the sport will be simply gradual. It takes some minutes to search out your rhythm, discover your tempo on the way you need to play it at your pace. All people has their very own pace on the court docket, proper? So I believe his greatest factor is looking for the pace that he must play at to be efficient and to be a professional.”
- Heart Liam Robbins, who was born in Wisconsin and grew up a Bucks fan, missed a part of his remaining school season with a proper leg fracture, which required surgical procedure. A second surgical procedure was wanted in January after a problem with a plate that was inserted in his leg, however he says he’s totally wholesome now and has no limitations, in keeping with Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “(Sunday) was my first recreation in like a yr and a half so to get again on the market, I positively had slightly little bit of nerves getting again on the market,” Robbins stated. “I used to be actually excited. Clearly not excellent by any means however simply to get again on the market and have the chance, simply very grateful and rely my blessings for positive.” Robbins, who has recorded 5 blocks in 22 preseason minutes, is on an Exhibit 10 take care of the Bucks.
- Nehm of The Athletic particulars how head coach Doc Rivers recruited assistant Greg Buckner over the summer time to spearhead Milwaukee’s protection. Buckner, who performed 10 NBA seasons with 5 totally different groups from 1999-2009, has spent the previous 4 seasons as an assistant with Cleveland, however Rivers pounced on the chance to talk to him when the Cavs fired J.B. Bickerstaff, Buckner’s shut pal. The Bucks completed simply nineteenth within the league in defensive score final season, however they’re hoping Buckner will assist flip that quantity round.
