Milwaukee Bucks: Biggest takeaways from 2022 media day

Milwaukee Bucks 2022 media day has come and gone once again. After a fairly uneventful offseason with limited roster turnover, it was very refreshing to both see and hear the returning players speak and give updates. We got answers to some questions we were hoping to hear about, not quite all of them though.

Takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks media day: Updates on injured players

The good news is that the majority 2022 Milwaukee Bucks roster remains intact. With a mix of veteran leadership, championship pedigree and a highly touted first-round rookie, they should definitely be able to make a run at another title, providing they stay healthy.

Probably the biggest takeaway from 2022 Milwaukee Bucks media day, is that all-star Khris Middleton will most likely not be ready for the start of the season. He indicated that he he injured his left wrist sometime after the all-star break during the 2021-22 season.

Middleton indicated that he knew at some point it would need to be fixed, meaning he would require surgery. He’s hoping his return will be closer to the start of the 2022-23 season. Khris Middleton could become a free agent as early as next summer.

Backup point guard George Hill’s injury was much more significant that what was let on. Hill indicated that he thought long and hard about retiring after last season at age 36. He said that as a competitor, he did not want to go out like that, and that he owes the city of Milwaukee a better version of himself than last year.

George Hill played just 54 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last year but Hill’s neck injury did not require offseason surgery. He did receive two cortisone shots and rehabbed hard over the summer to get back to full health.

Takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks media day: Jordan Nwora is signed

General manager Jon Horst spoke and told reporters that restricted free agent small forward Jordan Nwora will be coming back, Adrian Wojnarowski reported Nwora signed a two year $6.2 million contract. Nwora will be ready to join the team for training camp when it opens this upcoming week. Nwora was one of the biggest question marks for media day.

The fact that the Bucks have decided to bring him back shows that the team has faith in him and feel as though he has improved to the point of earning this new contract. Entering his third year on the Bucks, Nwora should play a bigger part of the wing rotation for the upcoming season and his shooting percentage, defense and overall game will hopefully improve.

Takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks media day: Bobby Portis is ready to rock

Fan favorite and sixth man extraordinaire Bobby Portis revealed some exciting tidbits for fans as well. Portis said that the game seven loss to the Boston Celtics which resulted in a playoff exit, was extremely motivating for him.

Portis said that he has been working on his game all summer and actually thanked the Celtics for knocking the Bucks out of the playoffs. The manner in which he was getting run off the 3-point line all series, showed him how he needed to improve his game, which he claims he has in a major way.

Portis indicated that he’s ready to go now and understands that with the newly signed contract comes higher expectations. With him making the necessary off-season adjustments, fans should be thrilled to see him elevate his game that much more for the upcoming season 2022-23 season.

Bobby Portis won the first Behind the Buck Pass fan vote, selected as the most likely candidate to be the Milwaukee Bucks sixth man this season.

Takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks media day: Giannis speaks, we listen

Two-time MVP and the world’s best player Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke for approximately 20 minutes. He touched on topics from playing for the Greek national team this past offseason, to his goals, aspirations and excitement for the upcoming 2022-23 season, to his love for playing with his teammates, to getting away from the game mentally and physically after playing in Europe and eating Doritos on the couch.

Giannis was asked about being the best player in the NBA, acknowledged that he does things that are great and benefit those around him, but mentioned Steph Curry as the best player, having just led the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Championship.

When Giannis speaks, EVERYBODY listens intently, from the media to his millions of fans all over the world. His humbleness and genuineness will never get old and is still so refreshing. After nearly willing the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals on his own, we can’t wait to see what Giannis has in store for 2022-23.

Certain players did not address the media such as Grayson Allen, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, MarJon Beauchamp, Jevon Carter, Pat Connaughton, Brook Lopez, Wesley Matthews and Serge Ibaka.

It’s been a long five months for Milwaukee Bucks fans since the game 7 elimination. Today’s media day most definitely conjures up the excitement and hope again for the team to bring home a second championship in the last three seasons.

Stay tuned with Behind the Buck Pass for final thoughts and analysis as the 2022-23 NBA season nears.