From a rocky offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks appear to have assembled a competitive roster. They won their first two preseason game without Giannis Antetokounmpo. They continued on that route in his debut, beating the Chicago Bulls in a close game. Their ecstatic performances aren’t just a product of luck. The Bucks are on the same page, working to build a lethal identity.

Antetokounmpo explained it well after his 13-point night against Chicago. “Last year we had one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league, you know, and I think this year we can even be better,” said the Greek Freak. The plan is to prioritize spacing, utilizing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s elite driving acumen.

Spacing is going to be everything for the Bucks this season. Against the Bulls, they attempted 48 threes, making 20. The two-time MVP credits Myles Turner’s arrival for the team’s success in the preseason. The modern-day big hit five triples, leading all the Bucks scorers. Antetokounmpo was elated with the quality looks the team managed to create.

However, he also knows just having an aggressive identity isn’t enough. The weapon will only contribute to winning if all the players are devoted to the cause. Notably, Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t going to come down looking to shoot threes. What he is willing to do instead is find the best shot.

“This team is it’s going to be every night team effort every night from today… If we are open and there’s somebody next to us and has a better shot, you know from good to great. Move the ball you know to our teammate. That’s how we’re going to win. It’s going to be a lot of team effort wins this year in order for us to be good,” Antetokounmpo added after the game.

Being selfless is going to be vital for the Bucks. Their three-point prowess is a genuine weapon. With sufficient time, they can manage to build on their strengths. But time is what they lack.

The difficult case of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future

Antetokounmpo returning to the Bucks meant one thing. He’s here to stay for this season. Despite the outrage over links with the Knicks, the Greek Freak reiterated his loyalty once again. He’s looking forward to the 82 games ahead, indicating a season-long vision with the Bucks. But is the drama really over that easily?

Not according to Shams Charania. The ESPN insider noted that Antetokounmpo will track the Bucks’ performance during the regular season. A simpler translation would be that the doors for an exit are still open. A trade can happen at any moment. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t a superstar who causes disturbance.

It’s a well-known fact that he plays for the badge. This season, it’s going to be the Milwaukee green again. It’s understandable that an exit is appealing. Yet, Giannis Antetokounmpo has never asked to abandon a difficult mission. Rather, he relished winning a championship in the traditional way, riding through a team’s ups and downs.

That’s not to say he will keep going. The Bucks are still on a timeline, which is the entirety of the 2025-26 season. At this point, even a playoff series victory could convince Antetokounmpo to stay. But improvements have to be made, and they can’t be baby steps. What the Greek Freak is looking for is an opportunity to contend.

It’s the desire that has to be satisfied. Even if the Bucks finish the season empty-handed, Antetokounmpo wants to see them fight. If they can develop strong resilience, the Bucks might have a long future with their franchise cornerstone.