The 2023-24 NBA season is rapidly approaching, and the Milwaukee Bucks will be attempting to bounce back in a major way.
Of course, last season ended in embarrassing fashion for the Bucks, who boasted the top seed in the league only to fall to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in round one. As a whole, the Bucks have something to prove, but there are certainly some individuals who have more than others to prove. With that said, let’s look at seven Milwaukee Bucks who fit the description.
Milwaukee Bucks with something to prove – Coach Adrian Griffin
It’d be unfair to mount significant pressure on a first-year head coach, but Adrian Griffin is going to be under a microscope this coming season. While many agreed that the Bucks were due for a new leading voice, they fired a proven championship-winning coach in Mike Budenholzer. They have an eclectic superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo and need to win now while he’s in his prime.
No one is expecting Griffin to be the next Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich right away, but he’s got to showcase his ability to be a competent coach. There will be growing pains, but Griffin has to prove that he can handle the pressure and adversity that comes with being an NBA coach, especially for a team with one of the best players in the world that is competing for a title.
Griffin won’t be on the hot seat or anything this year, but it would certainly be something if Bucks fans were clamoring for Mike Budenholzer to return at any point next season. Griffin’s job will be to make sure that doesn’t happen. He’s been in the hunt for a head coaching gig for a long time, and he’s finally got the chance to prove that he was well deserving of it.
Milwaukee Bucks with something to prove – Grayson Allen
Since joining the Milwaukee Bucks, Grayson Allen has consistently found himself on these lists of players with something to prove. Heading into year three with the team, that will not change for the shooting guard. After a fine season production-wise where he was constantly featured in the team’s various trade rumors, Allen has plenty to prove in 2023-24.
First and foremost, Allen is heading into a contract year. That alone is enough to add the guard to this list, but there’s certainly more. Many have proclaimed that he’s simply not good enough to be the starting two-guard on a title team. That has proven to be true thus far, especially following his horrid playoff showing in 2022. He was decent last season but could have certainly done more.
Speaking of starting two guards, there’s also no guarantee that Allen will be Milwaukee’s starter at the two for the third straight season. Newcomer Malik Beasley and several others could have a case to earn the nod. His name is bound to be featured heavily in trade rumors as well, so Allen is possibly going to have to prove he can help this team win at the highest level.
A new contract and Allen’s future in Milwaukee are at stake during the 2023-24 NBA season.
Milwaukee Bucks with something to prove – MarJon Beauchamp
MarJon Beauchamp’s rookie season with the Milwaukee Bucks was uneventful, to be it very lightly. With the Bucks boasting the NBA’s oldest roster, they primarily relied on veterans, leaving the new guy on the bench for most of the year. With a new coach who knows about player development in town, Beauchamp should see more time during his sophomore campaign.
Beauchamp has the tools to be an excellent player. He’s a 6-foot-6 athletic wing who has scoring potential and can also defend a slew of different positions. With Wesley Matthews leaving town, the Bucks need a new primary wing defender, and they may look to utilize Beauchamp in that role. He’ll have to show that he’s up for it and can hold his own at this level offensively and defensively.
Fans clamored all last season for the team to give Beauchamp more minutes, and it will be up to him to prove that they were right. The 22-year-old could undeniably become an incredibly useful rotational piece for the Milwaukee Bucks next season and also for the foreseeable future, but it all starts with an impactful year in 2023-24.
A Beauchamp breakout could very well be on the horizon.
Milwaukee Bucks with something to prove – Malik Beasley
After a poor playoff showing with the Los Angeles Lakers, Malik Beasley inked a prove-it deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite what he put on tape at the end of last season, Beasley is still more than a minimum-deal player. Yet, he’ll have to prove that this coming season as he aims to rehab his value and cash out in NBA Free Agency next off-season.
Beasley will certainly have an opportunity to make a name for himself. As mentioned, he could be the team’s starting two-guard on opening night alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and others, which would give him a chance to put his talents on display constantly. Yet, even if he does come off of the bench, Beasley will get plenty of action due to his skills.
No matter when he comes into the game, Beasley will have to prove that he can knock down his 3-pointers with regularity. He made the most 3-pointers off of the bench by a player last season, so he’s certainly capable of doing so. If Beasley puts together a strong season and shows that he can help a team win, a raise will undeniably be in his NBA future.
At 26 years old, Beasley’s best days could very well still be ahead of him.
Milwaukee Bucks with something to prove – Bobby Portis
There’s no denying that Bobby Portis has been the heartbeat of the Milwaukee Bucks’ bench over the last few seasons. He’s been a vital cog and just finished top three in the Sixth Man of the Year running. Yet, Portis has been far from perfect, as, over the course of the last three years, he’s had a tough time replicating his regular season success in the NBA Playoffs. Can he find a way to do it?
In three regular seasons with the Bucks, he’s averaged 13.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from three. In three playoff runs, he’s averaged 9.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists while shooting 45 percent from the floor and a vile 31.6 percent from 3-point territory. Those differences have hurt the Bucks quite a bit.
The biggest drops for Portis are his scoring and outside shooting. He just hasn’t been able to put points on the board as effectively, and it’s largely due to his dip in 3-point shooting. Portis hasn’t been able to consistently stay on the floor due to his defensive limitations either. Some have even clamored for the team to include him in trades due to these concerns about him in the playoffs.
The fan favorite will aim to bounce back from a quiet playoff showing and silence his doubters by proving that he can be an impactful piece in the postseason.
Milwaukee Bucks with something to prove – Jae Crowder
Last season wasn’t pretty for Jae Crowder. After asking for a trade away from the Phoenix Suns and holding out until he was acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks at the deadline, Crowder did not see much time down the stretch. Rather than earning a big payday like he may have hoped, the veteran inked a one-year prove-it deal worth the bare minimum.
Crowder will undoubtedly enter next season with a chip on his shoulder. When discussing him, the word “washed” has oftentimes been brought up due to his hot and cold play last season. Yet, they never bring up how Crowder sat out for most of the year and dealt with an injury in Milwaukee. He should be better this season, knowing which team he will be playing for, especially if he’s healthy.
Next season will be about proving that he can indeed help a team win while also raising his value ahead of 2024 NBA Free Agency. If the veteran wing can provide tough defense while also hitting his 3-point shots, a raise could certainly be in his future. He could undeniably earn himself a nice payday if he ends up becoming a starter for the Milwaukee Bucks at some point as well.
All eyes will be closely monitoring Jae Crowder’s play throughout the 2023-24 NBA season.
Milwaukee Bucks with something to prove – Jrue Holiday
It feels a bit wrong to put Jrue Holiday on this list. After all, he was an essential part in helping the Milwaukee Bucks win the 2021 NBA Finals, and he was an All-Star this past season. Yet, after his third consecutive postseason with shooting splits that are hard to look at, the veteran point guard has something to prove.
No matter how well Holiday performs throughout the regular season, fans are unlikely to bat an eye. Holiday could be an All-Star and All-NBA honoree, but fans will still wait to see what he can do in the NBA Playoffs. Over his three years with the Bucks, Holiday has now shot 39.6 percent from the floor in the playoffs. It’s 38.4 percent over the past two years. That’s not good enough.
Hypotheticals are torturous and, quite frankly, useless, but there is an argument to be made that the Bucks have left some hardware on the table over the past two years, and Holiday’s shooting woes may be a major factor. Following an ugly series vs. the Miami Heat, Holiday should be more than motivated to bounce back and help the Milwaukee Bucks win another title next season.
Holiday must find a way to terminate these late-season woes to avoid another disaster.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and breakdowns.